PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mustaf Ali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafal Kozak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ali comes to the cage accompanied by encore/numb. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ali
vs
Kozak

195 cm
25
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
277 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mustaf Ali!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rafal Kozak!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ali instigates a clinch.
Kozak tries for a takedown but Ali manages to get underhooks.
Ali keeps control of Kozak as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Ali escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Ali moves into the clinch successfully.
Kozak can't get the takedown.

Ali pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Ali has managed to clinch.
Kozak wants a takedown but no success here.
Mustaf Ali has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafal Kozak.

Ali has hold of one of Kozak's legs. Kozak is fighting the takedown attempt but Ali gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Ali sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Kozak looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kozak working a defensive guard here.
Kozak avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ali is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kozak keeping full guard, as Ali tries to pass.
Ali chips away with some ground and pound.
Ali has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Ali postures up.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Kozak has eaten all the pies!
Kozak working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ali.
Ali trying to control but Kozak is working from the bottom.
Ali stopping the sweep attempt from Kozak.
Ali controls from within his opponent's guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ali looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kozak darts in trying to clinch

and Ali counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kozak won't be happy with that.
Kozak gets back to half guard.
Ali seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Ali seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Kozak for as long as he can get away with.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kozak is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
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 because Mustaf Ali just wasn't active enough.
Kozak fails with the takedown

and Ali decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kozak's guard.
Ali knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kozak on the ground.
Kozak keeping moving, preventing Ali from controlling successfully.
Ali throwing strikes but missing.
Kozak wants to sweep but no luck.
Ali sitting in guard here, content to control.
Ali throwing strikes from guard but Kozak blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kozak looking to control but Ali passes into half guard.
Kozak trying to control here.
Ali throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kozak slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kozak looking to control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Kozak has his foot on Ali's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ali works his way back into a safe position though.
Ali controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Kozak tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mustaf Ali dominated that round.
That's time! Ali's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ali takes the fight into the clinch.

Ali works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Ali postures up.
Ali makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ali content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ali looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Ali wants to control from the top but Kozak keeps moving.
Ali wants to pass the guard but Kozak is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali postures up.
Ali wants to control from the top but Kozak keeps moving.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Mustaf Ali just wasn't active enough.
Kozak tries to clinch up

and Ali decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kozak's guard.
Kozak keeping moving, preventing Ali from controlling successfully.
Kozak utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kozak is trying to control the position but Ali postures up.
Ali wants to control from the top but Kozak keeps moving.
Kozak looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Kozak is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kozak throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Kozak not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kozak lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ali!

Kozak goes for an armbar but Ali turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Ali.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Ali here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Kozak keeping full guard, as Ali tries to pass.

Kozak has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Ali doesn't defend quickly enough and Kozak has managed to lock this one up! Can Ali escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Kozak on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:02 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Rafal Kozak!