PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Janos Kapolnasi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Kozakov (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.

Kapolnasi
vs
Kozakov

190 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Heavy handed

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 Amsterdam, Janos Kapolnasi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ivan Kozakov!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Aafke Stam and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kozakov shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kozakov showed some decent athleticism there.

Kozakov stands up out of the half guard.
Kapolnasi looks for a takedown but Kozakov sprawls well.
Kapolnasi tries to clinch but Kozakov moves out of range.
Kozakov throws a combination that misses

and Kapolnasi counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Kapolnasi.
Kozakov has Kapolnasi pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kapolnasi manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kapolnasi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kozakov just stands there and leans against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kapolnasi is trying to push Kozakov away but Kozakov has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Kozakov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kozakov dives in for a single leg takedown but Kapolnasi sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Kozakov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Kapolnasi's guard.
Kozakov sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kapolnasi is trying to control the position but Kozakov postures up.
Kozakov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Kapolnasi is working an open guard so Kozakov takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Kapolnasi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kozakov as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Janos Kapolnasi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kapolnasi shoots in for a takedown but Kozakov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kozakov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kapolnasi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kapolnasi shoots for a takedown but Kozakov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kapolnasi throws a sloppy head kick and Kozakov moves out of range easily.

Kapolnasi gets caught flat footed, as Kozakov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Kapolnasi is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kozakov tries to free his leg and advance position but Kapolnasi is retaining full guard.

Kozakov decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Kapolnasi, up you get!
Kozakov thuds his right hand into Kapolnasi's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Kozakov fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Kapolnasi to the ground. Kozakov is now in Kapolnasi's guard.
Kozakov won't allow Kapolnasi to get back to his feet.
Kapolnasi keeping moving, preventing Kozakov from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kapolnasi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kapolnasi wants to get back to his feet but Kozakov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Kozakov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Kozakov pushing down on Kapolnasi's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kozakov trying to control from half guard but Kapolnasi is working away.

That's four 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.
Kapolnasi wants to control but Kozakov is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Kozakov shoots in and gets a takedown into Kapolnasi's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kapolnasi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kapolnasi being controlled here, momentarily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
It looks like Kozakov might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Kozakov dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kapolnasi shoots in for a takedown but Kozakov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kapolnasi tries to close the distance and clinch but Kozakov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kapolnasi slaps away a takedown attempt from Kozakov, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Kozakov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kapolnasi stalling in the clinch but Kozakov improves position.
Kozakov is looking for a takedown.
Kapolnasi fails to pull guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kozakov decides to pull guard.
Kapolnasi wants to control from the top but Kozakov keeps moving.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kozakov can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kozakov pulls Kapolnasi in to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kapolnasi wants to control from the top but Kozakov keeps moving.
Kapolnasi wants to pass the guard but Kozakov is keeping the position.
Kapolnasi is working hard here to advance position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kozakov lands with a nice body punch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kapolnasi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Janos Kapolnasi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kozakov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Kozakov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Kapolnasi is looking to reverse the position.

Kozakov tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kapolnasi taking a bit of punishment here - Kozakov scoring with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kozakov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kapolnasi, who protects the arm well.
Kozakov cracks Kapolnasi with a big elbow.
Kozakov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kapolnasi keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kapolnasi can't do much from the bottom here.
Kozakov is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Kapolnasi will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Kozakov wants to control but Kapolnasi is keeping him busy.
Ivan Kozakov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kapolnasi tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kozakov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kozakov tries to move into full mount but can't pass Kapolnasi's legs.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Kozakov working away.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Kozakov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Kozakov darts in looking for a takedown but Kapolnasi gets double underhooks and turns Kozakov into the cage.
Kozakov shoots in looking for a takedown. Kapolnasi tries to sprawl out of it but Kozakov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kapolnasi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Kozakov takes the fight into the clinch.

Kozakov pulls guard effortlessly.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kapolnasi would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Kapolnasi trying to control the position from guard on top but Kozakov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kapolnasi wanted to stand there but Kozakov had control of the position.
Kapolnasi trying to control the position from guard on top but Kozakov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kozakov looking to control.
Kapolnasi wanted to stand there but Kozakov had control of the position.
Kozakov is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Kozakov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kapolnasi avoids it really well and circles away.
Kapolnasi appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Janos Kapolnasi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Kozakov.

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.
No luck for Kozakov with that takedown attempt.
Kapolnasi is looking for a counter combo.
Kozakov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kapolnasi shoots in and drives through. Kozakov sprawls well.
Kozakov wants to counter with a clinch but Kapolnasi pushes him away.
Kozakov shoots for a double leg takedown but Kapolnasi sprawls well. He's pushed Kozakov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Kozakov.
Kozakov with a lazy takedown attempt
and Kapolnasi counters with a stiff right hand.
Kapolnasi has a takedown stuffed.
Kapolnasi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kozakov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kozakov is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Kapolnasi dives in for a single leg takedown but Kozakov sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kozakov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kapolnasi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kapolnasi looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Kozakov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kapolnasi's waist but Kapolnasi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kozakov off to one side.
Kozakov avoids the head kick by Kapolnasi.
Kozakov shoots in but Kapolnasi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kapolnasi seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Kapolnasi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kapolnasi darts in looking for a takedown but Kozakov gets double underhooks and turns Kapolnasi into the cage.

Kozakov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kozakov is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kapolnasi pulls him back up using the underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Kapolnasi's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kapolnasi is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Kapolnasi taking a breather.
Kapolnasi tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kozakov putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Kapolnasi in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Kozakov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kapolnasi to keep the fight standing.
Kapolnasi is trying to pull guard but Kozakov turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Kozakov lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Kapolnasi or not.

Kozakov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kapolnasi shoots in but no luck this time.
Janos Kapolnasi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ivan Kozakov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kozakov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kapolnasi but Kapolnasi pushes him off and we're back to square one.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ivan Kozakov.
Well Kozakov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Kozakov!