PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Easton Bauer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Drago Kozlov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kozlov is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Back in the USSR. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Bauer
vs
Kozlov

182 cm
30
189 lbs
16 - 13 - 1

187 cm
31
190 lbs
25 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

5th Round Clothing

Hopkins Athletics

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 13 - 1, fighting out of New York, Easton Bauer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Drago Kozlov!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Alyssa Summers and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bauer connects with a single shot there.

It looks like Drago Kozlov has been cut.
Kozlov is looking to clinch.

Kozlov has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kozlov can't find room to land a body shot as Bauer controls the action.
Bauer is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Kozlov is defending well.
Bauer takes a knee to the side of the body.
Bauer's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Bauer tries for a takedown. No joy.
Bauer prevents a body shot from Kozlov.
Bauer looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Easton Bauer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Bauer.

Kozlov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bauer swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kozlov misses with an uppercut. Bauer saw that one coming.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kozlov moves out of range as Bauer strikes.
Kozlov throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bauer throws a sloppy body shot
and Kozlov counters with a head kick. That will keep Bauer thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Kozlov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bauer moves away.
Kozlov lands with a shot to the body.
Kozlov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kozlov fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Bauer drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Bauer is trying to ground and pound but Kozlov uses the momentary lack of control by Bauer to regain half guard.
Bauer trying to control the action but Kozlov is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kozlov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bauer.
Bauer thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Bauer looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bauer not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kozlov is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bauer's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bauer's back!
Bauer trying to control the action but Kozlov just sinks the hooks in.
Kozlov looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Bauer tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Kozlov avoids the attempt from Bauer to control.
Bauer tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bauer wants to control but Kozlov is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kozlov pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Bauer is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kozlov looking to finish with strikes here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kozlov thowing shots but they're missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Drago Kozlov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Drago Kozlov's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bauer misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kozlov.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kozlov. Bauer does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bauer looks to throw the jab but Kozlov is out of range.
Bauer swings for the body but Kozlov moves out of range.
Kozlov walks into a left hand.
Bauer takes a jab right on the kisser.
Bauer connects with a body shot that sends Kozlov's belly button to the back.
Kozlov fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Bauer has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Kozlov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kozlov shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Bauer misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kozlov misses with a low kick as Bauer jumps back.
Bauer shoots in looking for a takedown but Kozlov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bauer's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Bauer lunges at Kozlov with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kozlov's hand.
Kozlov lands with a thumping leg kick.
Bauer rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kozlov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A telegraphed right hand from Bauer misses the target.
Bauer throws a hook to the side of Kozlov's head but Kozlov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Bauer tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kozlov swivels and escapes.
Kozlov looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Bauer misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bauer jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Kozlov moves into the clinch.
Kozlov misses with a hook to the ribs.
The referee calls for Bauer to work.
Bauer is trying to push Kozlov away but Kozlov has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kozlov throws a punch but it's blocked by Bauer.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kozlov misses with a hook from the clinch.

Bauer breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kozlov lands with a thumping leg kick.
Kozlov defending well as Bauer loads up on a big left hand.
The fighters circling - Bauer throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Some wild striking there from Bauer.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kozlov. Bauer does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bauer scores with a jab to the head.
A punch lands to the side of Bauer 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Jab, jab by Kozlov - just one landing.
Kozlov lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Bauer lands a jab-cross combination.
Bauer misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kozlov.
Kozlov ducks under a wild hook from Bauer.
Kozlov looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Bauer misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kozlov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bauer misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kozlov misses with a wild body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Kozlov darts in and clinches Bauer up against the cage.
Kozlov lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Bauer.
Kozlov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Bauer has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Kozlov after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Easton Bauer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bauer blocks a body shot from Kozlov.
Kozlov can't find room to land a body shot as Bauer controls the action.

Bauer pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bauer tries to bum rush Kozlov with a series of wild strikes but Kozlov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
No joy there for Bauer, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bauer missing with a left hand there. Kozlov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Drago Kozlov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Drago Kozlov's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Bauer throws a right and a left that Kozlov avoids nicely.
Kozlov staying out of range there.
A shot to the liver by Kozlov. Beautiful body shot.
Kozlov throws a leg kick which misses Bauer's front leg but catches the back leg as Bauer tries to avoid it.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Bauer.
Kozlov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bauer thows a body shot but no joy.
Bauer looks to score with a jab to the body but Kozlov is just out of range.
Bauer cracks Kozlov with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Kozlov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bauer.
Kozlov wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Bauer, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bauer misses with a jab, cross combination.
Bauer thows a body shot but no joy.
Kozlov is looking to clinch but Bauer is avoiding it.
Bauer fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kozlov manages to avoid it.
Kozlov misses with a double jab
letting Bauer counter with a right hand.
Bauer falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Kozlov to counter with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kozlov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bauer.
Bauer with a jab.
Easton Bauer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kozlov takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bauer. Kozlov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kozlov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bauer.
Kozlov takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Bauer misses with a hook.
Kozlov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bauer thows a left - swing and a miss!
Bauer thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Bauer. Those never looked like landing.
Kozlov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kozlov wants it to stay on the feet.
Bauer throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Bauer throws a lazy uppercut
and Kozlov counters with a nice body kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bauer defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kozlov.
Kozlov walks into a left hand.
Bauer misses the shot to the body.
Drago Kozlov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Bauer with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Kozlov to score with a decent uppercut.
Bauer has a takedown stuffed.

Kozlov gets a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bauer wants to get back to striking at distance but Kozlov won't allow it.
Kozlov misses with the head strike.
Kozlov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kozlov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bauer blocks it with crossed arms.
Kozlov lands a left hand that snaps the head of Bauer backwards.
Easton Bauer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Bauer.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kozlov lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Bauer backwards.
Bauer looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Kozlov keeps control of Bauer as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kozlov lands with a short punch from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Easton Bauer showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kozlov 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Drago Kozlov!
Drago Kozlov managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Hopkins Athletics, into his post fight interview.