PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Kozlov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carl Ernst (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kozlov
vs
Ernst

160 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

150 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolai Kozlov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Carl Ernst!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Dmitry Maklakov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circle momentarily. Kozlov darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kozlov.
Kozlov has a takedown stuffed.
Ernst takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kozlov takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Kozlov scores with a hook.
Kozlov shoots for a takedown but Ernst saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A punch combination from Kozlov misses.
Kozlov with a hook.
Kozlov scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kozlov.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nikolai Kozlov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kozlov wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Ernst shoots in and bounces Kozlov off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Ernst passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Kozlov on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kozlov managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Ernst.
Ernst advances to mount.
Ernst landing punches.

Kozlov is rocked!
Ernst punishing his opponent with strikes.
Oh Kozlov is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kozlov in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Ernst with good strikes from the mount here!

Ernst with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ernst fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Kozlov is desperately trying to improve his position but Ernst has a good base and remains in mount.
Ernst looking to control but Kozlov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kozlov seems to have got his legs back now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ernst looks gassed!
Kozlov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ernst with good strikes from the mount here!
Kozlov tries to reverse the position but Ernst maintains control.
Ernst trying to control but Kozlov is having none of it.
Ernst throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Kozlov because Ernst loaded up on that one.
Ernst with shots to the head and body - Kozlov looks very uncomfortable down there.
Ernst is landing with some decent strikes but Kozlov is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Poor strikes thrown by Ernst there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Kozlov throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Kozlov working to try and regain half guard.
Ernst tries to control but Kozlov wriggling away.
Ernst misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kozlov regains half guard.
Kozlov trying to hold on to Ernst's head to control him but Ernst postures up.
Kozlov wants to improve his position but Ernst is controlling well.
Kozlov punching from the bottom.
Kozlov is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ernst's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ernst's back!

Kozlov patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
You can see the frustration on Ernst's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Kozlov throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.

Kozlov has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Ernst is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kozlov has Ernst flattened out and is raining down punches.
Kozlov is trying to stick to Ernst's back but Ernst is turning into Kozlov. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Kozlov's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Ernst.
Kozlov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ernst chips away with some ground and pound.
Kozlov throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Ernst trying to control but Kozlov is working from the bottom.
Ernst content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Ernst drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ernst jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ernst with a flurry of punches that miss.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ernst won't allow Kozlov to sweep him here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Good standup being displayed there by Kozlov as he connects with a hook.
Ernst dodges the punch combination from Kozlov.
Kozlov misses with a jab, cross combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Carl Ernst will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ernst shoots in for a double leg but Kozlov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kozlov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Kozlov connects with a single shot there.
Kozlov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kozlov tries to clinch up but Ernst circles away and keeps his distance.
Kozlov with a lazy takedown attempt

and Ernst counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Kozlov!

Ernst is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Kozlov is surviving well by controlling Ernst's body position as best he can.

Ernst goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Kozlov is on top in guard.
Kozlov with a nice head shot there.
Ernst is breathing heavily.
Kozlov wants to stand but Ernst is controlling his posture from full guard.

Ernst throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Kozlov escapes and throws Ernst's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Carl Ernst has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Kozlov.
Kozlov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ernst keeps working.
Check out the look on Kozlov's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Kozlov misses with the ground and pound.
Kozlov working the ground and pound.
Ernst is looking to regain half guard here but Kozlov keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A shot to de liver by Kozlov. Beautiful body shot.
Kozlov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ernst.
Ernst closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Kozlov doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Ernst counters with a single leg into guard. Kozlov didn't expect that.
Kozlov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ernst is controlling him.
Ernst is working Kozlov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ernst passes Kozlov's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Ernst moves nicely into side control.
Kozlov is looking to regain half guard here but Ernst keeps moving and retains side control.
Ernst cracks Kozlov with a big elbow.

Ernst is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kozlov is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ernst works to advance to full mount. Kozlov defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Ernst lands a big shot to the head and Kozlov winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:33 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Carl Ernst!