PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Connor Cozad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Karel Gil (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gil has chosen Papa Roach - Last Resort as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cozad
vs
Gil

173 cm
26
158 lbs
17 - 8 - 0

182 cm
28
159 lbs
16 - 7 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Fossington & Blythe: Gentlemen's Fight Attire
Bloodsport Nutrition

Fossington & Blythe: Gentlemen's Fight Attire

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Connor Cozad!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 1, fighting out of London, Karel Gil!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Colin Fotheringham and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gil shoots for a takedown but Cozad saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Cozad dives in and grabs Gil's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gil pushes down on Cozad's head and hops out.

Gil bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

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

Gil is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Cozad is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Gil throws a strike aimed at the side of Cozad's head but Cozad avoids it well.

Gil is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Cozad is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Gil is trying to move to mount but Cozad reverses beautifully and ends up in Gil's guard.
Gil controls Cozad momentarily but Cozad frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cozad postures up in Gil's guard and throws a big left but Gil blocks it.
Gil is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Cozad wants to stand but Gil has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Cozad is looking to work some ground and pound but Gil has wrist control.
Gil controls Cozad momentarily but Cozad frees himself.
Gil looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Cozad drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Gil dives on top into guard.
Gil connects with a couple of short punches.

Cozad had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gil defends it easily.
Cozad wants to stand but Gil is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cozad managing to control the position.

Cozad looking for a guillotine here but Gil defends easily.
Gil landing some decent shots from guard.
Gil trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gil scoring with punches to the head and body.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Gil's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Cozad is looking to stand up but Gil isn't so interested in that idea.
Gil landing some decent shots from guard.
Gil scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cozad is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Gil postures up and lands a big shot to Cozad's brow.
Gil scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gil accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gil must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cozad looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gil scoring with punches to the head and body.
Gil tries to free his leg and advance position but Cozad is retaining full guard.
Gil in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cozad thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Cozad wants to sweep here but Gil controlling him for the moment.
Gil is looking to work some ground and pound but Cozad has wrist control.
Gil makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Gil's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Gil landing with the ground and pound.
Cozad preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gil scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gil throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cozad works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gil lands a couple of elbows.
Gil throws an elbow that misses. Cozad uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gil's guard. Nice move by Cozad!

Cozad gets to his feet - Gil follows without any prompting.
Gil doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Cozad counters with a single leg into guard. Gil didn't expect that.
Gil preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gil wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Gil trying to keep a closed guard but Cozad is proving a slippery customer.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cozad trying to control but Gil is working from the bottom.
Gil is trying to control the position but Cozad postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karel Gil dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gil shoots for a takedown but Cozad saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Gil fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cozad avoids it really well and circles away.
Cozad doesn't manage to clinch there - Gil circles away.
Cozad leaves Gil with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Connor Cozad has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Karel Gil.
Gil fails with a takedown attempt.
Gil shoots and misses
and Cozad counters with a nice leg kick.
Gil misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Cozad shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gil's guard.
Gil trying to control the position.
Cozad advances position into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cozad is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Gil looks calm but he's in trouble here. Cozad gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Gil is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Cozad lets go of the hold and Gil can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:25 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Connor Cozad!
Connor Cozad retains his lightweight title!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Connor Cozad made sure he mentioned Bloodsport Nutrition, along with how happy he was to win his fight.