PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Itziar Belmond (ranked 1644 p4p, 3444 weight class) and Pope Cozad (ranked 228 p4p, 415 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Cozad's choice of entrance music: Spirit In The Sky- Norman Greenbaum. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Belmond
vs
Cozad

182 cm
24
175
8 - 7 - 0

181 cm
26
170
10 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

NARCOS
Conviction

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 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Itziar Belmond!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Pope Cozad!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Radbod Blank and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cozad shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Belmond as he avoids it easily.
Cozad fails with an attempt to clinch.

Cozad moves into range and clinches up with Belmond.
Cozad makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Cozad is working Belmond over against the cage.
Belmond blocks an uppercut.
Cozad tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Belmond just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cozad tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Belmond just stands there and leans against the cage.
Itziar Belmond has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pope Cozad.
Belmond lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice left hand lands by Belmond.
Belmond creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Cozad's defenses.
Belmond scores with a nice hook to the head.
Cozad tries a body shot but Belmond blocks it.
Belmond lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Pope Cozad has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belmond is working Cozad over against the cage.
Belmond lands a hook that snaps the head of Cozad backwards.
Cozad swings wildly with an uppercut but Belmond uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cozad tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Belmond's elbow.
Cozad scores with a shot to the side of Belmond's head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cozad.
Cozad misses with a short punch on the inside.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Belmond.
Cozad lands a hook that snaps the head of Belmond backwards.
Cozad lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A short uppercut from Cozad.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belmond blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Cozad fails to land.
The referee calls for Belmond to work.

Cozad has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Belmond uses from the top position.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Cozad has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Belmond is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Cozad.
Belmond tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Cozad is trying to escape the position but Belmond is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cozad wants to control but Belmond postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cozad tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Belmond wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Belmond tries to stand but Cozad is controlling his head.
The referee asks Belmond politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Belmond prefers to stall for the moment though.
Cozad is trying to improve his position.
Cozad is trying to control Belmond's posture but Belmond avoids it.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Belmond tries to stand but Cozad is controlling his head.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Itziar Belmond seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cozad gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
A slapping leg kick lands for Belmond.

Cozad scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Cozad is looking to stall here but Belmond recovers full guard.
Cozad trying to move into half guard but instead Belmond has managed to sweep!

Belmond is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Cozad is looking for a triangle here but Belmond uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Itziar Belmond dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Pope Cozad's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Some bone on bone action there as Cozad checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Cozad is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Belmond throws a leg kick that is checked

and Cozad counters with a takedown into side control.
Belmond is trying to control Cozad's posture but Cozad avoids it.
Belmond isn't going anywhere.
Cozad controlling from side mount.

Cozad is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Belmond has escaped the position, nice work there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cozad tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Cozad has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cozad is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Belmond is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Belmond is pushing Cozad's head away, looking to escape. Cozad manages to hold on to the position though.
Cozad controls the position.

Cozad is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Belmond is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Cozad working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Cozad wants to lay and pray for a moment but Belmond keeps working.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Belmond throws a leg kick

and Cozad counters with a takedown into side control.
Cozad moves into full mount!
Cozad tries to control but Belmond wriggling away.
Pope Cozad has got the better of the ground game so far.
Belmond gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cozad stops Belmond from getting back to his feet.

Cozad is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Belmond sees it coming and defends easily.
Belmond is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cozad is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Belmond reverses the position - he's now on top in Cozad's guard.
Belmond sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Belmond won't allow Cozad to sweep him here.

Belmond avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Belmond is looking to stand up but Cozad won't let him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Cozad working for submissions but it's allowed Belmond to get to half guard.
Cozad is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Pope Cozad will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Pope Cozad's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Belmond turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Belmond jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Belmond tries to clinch but Cozad is having none of it.

Belmond closes the distance and clinches.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Belmond.
Cozad lands a body shot in the clinch.
Cozad tries to pull guard but Belmond won't allow it.
Belmond working some nice short punches in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cozad tries a body shot but Belmond blocks it.
Belmond pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Cozad tries to work over Belmond's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Itziar Belmond has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Cozad tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Belmond's elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cozad tries to throw a body punch but Belmond avoids it by throwing Cozad back against the cage.
Cozad jumps guard but Belmond turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Cozad letting Belmond take a breather here.
Belmond blocks a body shot from Cozad.
Cozad fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Itziar Belmond has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pope Cozad.
Cozad tries to work over Belmond's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cozad misses with a hook to the ribs.
Belmond trying to control the position but instead, Cozad has worked for underhooks and has pushed Belmond into the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Belmond.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belmond misses with an elbow over the top.
Belmond taking a breather.
Belmond blocks an uppercut.
Cozad misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Belmond fails to land.
Cozad tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Belmond just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cozad is trying to pull guard but Belmond turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Belmond lands an elbow inside that Cozad shrugs off.
A left hand lands to the body for Belmond.
Cozad tries a body shot but Belmond blocks it.
Cozad misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belmond blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cozad working aggressively here.
Belmond tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Belmond pushes Cozad back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Belmond is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cozad can do to turn this around?
Cozad tries to pull guard but Belmond holds him up against the cage and eventually Cozad drops back down to his feet.
Cozad misses with some punches.
Belmond holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Belmond just leaning against Cozad, taking a breather.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cozad.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belmond comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Belmond goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cozad tries to pull guard but Belmond won't allow it.
Cozad lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Cozad tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Belmond smiles and moves away.

Cozad looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Cozad pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Belmond is keeping the position for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Belmond is pulling down on Cozad's head. It's preventing any offense from Cozad, at least for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Itziar Belmond showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Belmond 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Itziar Belmond!
During a confident post fight interview, Itziar Belmond thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.