PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rafal Kozak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Pilgrim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kozak comes to the cage accompanied by Kazik 12 groszy. Pilgrim has chosen Billy Pilgrim Has Become Unstuck in Time as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kozak
vs
Pilgrim

188 cm
32
277 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

194 cm
26
270 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Fast

DJs Locker
$300

Dragon
Steel Penn's All 160

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 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rafal Kozak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Billy Pilgrim!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Eddie Farnsworth and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pilgrim moves forwards but Kozak connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Pilgrim throws a series of punches but Kozak avoids them all with ease.
No joy there for Kozak, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Pilgrim lands a nice shot to the body.
Pilgrim throws a low kick but Kozak moves out of range easily.
Billy Pilgrim seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kozak uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Pilgrim.
Pilgrim scores with a punch to the head.

It looks like Rafal Kozak has been cut.
Pilgrim staying out of range there.
Kozak fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Pilgrim misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kozak throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Kozak goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pilgrim misses with the body kick
and Kozak counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Pilgrim lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Pilgrim misses with a kick to the body.
Pilgrim throws a half hearted mid kick.
Kozak moves away from the strike by Pilgrim.
Pilgrim looks to land a body kick but Kozak moved away.
Pilgrim takes a swing at Kozak's ribcage but misses.
Pilgrim scores with a punch to the head.
A low kick from Pilgrim is predictable there
and Kozak counters with a two punch combo.
Kozak scores with a nice right hand.
Pilgrim misses with a few strikes there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pilgrim fails in his attempt to clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Kozak scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kozak thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Pilgrim manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Kozak is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kozak is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Kozak is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Pilgrim doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kozak.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pilgrim won't allow Kozak to pass to mount.
Kozak thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kozak trying to mount his opponent but Pilgrim defends it.

Kozak is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Pilgrim defends it well.

Kozak is trying to work for a kimura but Pilgrim is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pilgrim is pressing down on Kozak's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Kozak drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Pilgrim dives on top into guard.
Pilgrim seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Kozak is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Pilgrim defends well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pilgrim seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rafal Kozak will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rafal Kozak'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.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Pilgrim throws a chopping leg kick but Kozak manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Pilgrim misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The fighters circling - Pilgrim throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Pilgrim looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Pilgrim looks to land a right hand but Kozak moved out of range.
Pilgrim looks to throw the jab but Kozak is out of range.
Pilgrim throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Pilgrim is looking to score with low kicks.
Nice body kick there by Pilgrim.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pilgrim thuds his right hand into Kozak's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Pilgrim pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Kozak sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Kozak shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pilgrim throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Kozak fails with a takedown attempt.
Pilgrim waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kozak.
Pilgrim pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pilgrim scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Pilgrim misses with a body kick.
Billy Pilgrim is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pilgrim throws a wild body kick that Kozak sees coming a mile off.
Kozak avoids the head kick by Pilgrim.
Kozak avoids a kick to the body.
Pilgrim misses with a looping left.
Pilgrim tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kozak paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pilgrim looks to land a left hand but Kozak moved out of range nicely.
Pilgrim bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Kozak shoots for a double leg takedown but Pilgrim sprawls well. He's pushed Kozak's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pilgrim tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Pilgrim throws a looping overhand right but Kozak ducks down to avoid it.
Pilgrim throws a big shot that misses.
Kozak blocks a head kick by Pilgrim.
Rafal Kozak is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kozak fails to land with a series of punches.
Pilgrim lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Pilgrim lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kozak shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Pilgrim pinned against the cage. Pilgrim gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafal Kozak. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pilgrim throws a jab but it's blocked by Kozak.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pilgrim rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Kozak counters with a nice double leg into side control. Pilgrim won't be happy with that.

Kozak working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Kozak is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Pilgrim knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Kozak working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Pilgrim showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rafal Kozak's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

The crowd cheers as Pilgrim lands an impressive looking overhand right. Kozak doesn't seem phased though.
Pilgrim misses with a low kick.
Billy Pilgrim seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Pilgrim throws a body punch but Kozak moves out of range.
Kozak walks into a jab.
Pilgrim throws a shot from downtown. Kozak moves away and avoids it.
Pilgrim fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Kozak is out of range.

Kozak drives through with a takedown into Pilgrim's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Pilgrim looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Rafal Kozak overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kozak looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kozak loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Pilgrim keeping moving, preventing Kozak from controlling successfully.
Kozak throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pilgrim wants to get back to his feet but Kozak is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Pilgrim keeping full guard, as Kozak tries to pass.
Pilgrim utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kozak trying to control the position from guard on top but Pilgrim is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Kozak drops back, looking for a kneebar! Pilgrim looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Pilgrim looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Pilgrim!
Kozak is looking to reverse the position.
Kozak is being controlled here.
Kozak is not content to let Pilgrim control the position.
Kozak throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kozak tries to bench press Pilgrim off him but Pilgrim keeps the position.
Kozak struggling a bit here.
Kozak is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Kozak is looking for a sweep.
Kozak is not content to let Pilgrim control the position.
Kozak misses with a strike from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kozak regains half guard.
Kozak is not content to let Pilgrim control the position.

Kozak looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kozak wants to get back to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Still in half guard, Pilgrim seems content to control.
Kozak tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Pilgrim has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Kozak is in all sorts of trouble here.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rafal Kozak.
I think Kozak has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:29
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!