PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Pope Cozad (ranked 23522 p4p, 2722 weight class) and Vitor Mesquita (ranked 474 p4p, 298 weight class). Cozad comes to the cage accompanied by Spirit In The Sky- Norman Greenbaum. Pope Cozad had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 156.0lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Pope Cozad has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Cozad
vs
Mesquita

181 cm
27
170
10 - 9 - 0

170 cm
23
155
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Pope Cozad!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vitor Mesquita!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Alyssa Summers and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cozad shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Mesquita's guard.
Mesquita is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Mesquita is looking for a kimura but Cozad is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mesquita to get the leverage.
Mesquita is looking to take a break and control but Cozad is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cozad is looking to improve his position.
Cozad is controlling Mesquita's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Mesquita trying to control from half guard but Cozad is working away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cozad tries to get to full guard but Mesquita has control of the leg.

Mesquita wants to work for an arm triangle but Cozad is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
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.
Cozad trying to hold on to Mesquita's head to control him but Mesquita postures up.
Cozad is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Mesquita is looking to take a break and control but Cozad is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mesquita content to control rather than advance.

Mesquita seems to be working for a kimura but Cozad defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mesquita is trying to control. Cozad wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Cozad won't allow Mesquita to pass to mount.

Mesquita trying to work for an americana but Cozad has managed to regain full guard.
Cozad looking to control.
Mesquita is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Mesquita trying to control the position from guard on top but Cozad is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

Cozad feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Cozad has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Mesquita is trying to control the position but Cozad postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cozad trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Mesquita working for a triangle but Cozad defends it easily.

Mesquita working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cozad doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cozad manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Cozad wants to control from the top but Mesquita keeps moving.

Mesquita has his foot on Cozad's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cozad works his way back into a safe position though.
Mesquita looking to control.

Mesquita is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mesquita pulls Cozad in close to prevent any damage.
Cozad wants to control from the top but Mesquita keeps moving.
Mesquita looking to control.
Cozad trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cozad is stalling in the full guard.
Cozad wants to pass the guard but Mesquita is keeping the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cozad stopping the sweep attempt from Mesquita.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Vitor Mesquita 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.

Cozad shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Pope Cozad overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cozad wants to control from the top but Mesquita keeps moving.
Cozad stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mesquita swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mesquita is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Mesquita throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Our spies down at at New York Public Gym inform us that Mesquita has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Mesquita is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mesquita looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mesquita looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Mesquita had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cozad defends it easily.

Mesquita working for submissions but it's allowed Cozad to get to half guard.

Cozad is looking for a kimura here.
Mesquita trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mesquita is controlling Cozad's trapped leg to prevent Cozad from advancing to side control.
Mesquita is looking to control Cozad's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mesquita avoid being mounted?

Mesquita looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Mesquita is trying to get back to full guard.
Mesquita wants to control but Cozad is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Mesquita won't allow Cozad to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mesquita is looking to improve his position.

Cozad is looking for a kimura but Mesquita is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Cozad to get the leverage.

Mesquita has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Cozad escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Cozad!

Cozad looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Cozad is trying to get an arm triangle but Mesquita is defending well.
You can see the frustration on Mesquita's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Cozad looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
You can see the frustration on Mesquita's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Mesquita connects with a right hand. Cozad shakes it off.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Cozad bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Mesquita wants to control but Cozad postures up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pope Cozad dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Cozad looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Mesquita!
Mesquita gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mesquita wants to improve his position but Cozad is controlling well.
Mesquita is trying to control but can't.

Mesquita looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cozad is taking a breather. Mesquita says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Cozad is looking for a kimura but Mesquita is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Cozad to get the leverage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mesquita makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mesquita.
Mesquita trying to control the position.
Mesquita keeping moving, preventing Cozad from controlling successfully.

Mesquita had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cozad defends it easily.
Cozad postures up.

Mesquita escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cozad gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Cozad trying to control the position from guard on top but Mesquita is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Mesquita is trying to keep Cozad in close.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Mesquita looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Mesquita has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Cozad 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 Mesquita.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mesquita gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Cozad seems to be working for a kimura but Mesquita defends the submission attempt.
Mesquita is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cozad's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cozad's back!
Cozad is really stuck here.

Mesquita 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, Cozad has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Mesquita is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Cozad knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Cozad for a finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cozad tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Mesquita avoids the attempt from Cozad to control.
Cozad is trying to escape the mount.
Cozad wants to hold on but Mesquita pushes him away.
Mesquita with good strikes from the mount here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mesquita wants to control the pace but Cozad is squirming around nicely.
Cozad knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mesquita on the ground.

Mesquita with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vitor Mesquita comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mesquita 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Vitor Mesquita!