PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alessio Mattias (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fedor Kozlov (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.

Mattias
vs
Kozlov

179 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
19
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alessio Mattias!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Fedor Kozlov!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mattias closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mattias lands in his opponent's guard.
Mattias with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Mattias postures up.
Kozlov throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Mattias slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Kozlov is looking to stand up but Mattias isn't so interested in that idea.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kozlov looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mattias keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kozlov's head.
Kozlov controls Mattias momentarily but Mattias frees himself.

Mattias drops back, looking for a kneebar! Kozlov looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Kozlov looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Kozlov!

Mattias is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kozlov scoring with punches from side control.

Kozlov swings around for an armbar but Mattias sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Kozlov's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mattias wants to control from the top but Kozlov keeps moving.
Mattias is really struggling to control Kozlov but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Mattias trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mattias trying to control but Kozlov is working from the bottom.
Kozlov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kozlov being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mattias trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kozlov wants to sweep but no luck.
Mattias is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Kozlov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Kozlov clinches.

Mattias's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

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.

Kozlov drives through with a takedown into Mattias's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Mattias pulls Kozlov in close to his closed guard and prevents Kozlov from doing any damage or advancing position.
Kozlov won't allow Mattias to get back to his feet.

Mattias looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Mattias keeping full guard, as Kozlov tries to pass.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mattias not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
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 Alessio Mattias will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kozlov avoids the head kick by Mattias.
Mattias tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kozlov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mattias tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kozlov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mattias somewhat.

Kozlov has taken the fight to the clinch.
Mattias can't find room to land a body shot as Kozlov controls the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kozlov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Kozlov lands a takedown into guard.
Kozlov wanted to stand there but Mattias had control of the position.
Kozlov wants to pass the guard but Mattias is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kozlov stopping the sweep attempt from Mattias.
Mattias on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Mattias tries to get out of the position.
Kozlov trying to control the position from guard on top but Mattias is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kozlov stays in close to Mattias's body and controls the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Kozlov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mattias swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Mattias takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Alessio Mattias is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kozlov doesn't manage to clinch there - Mattias circles away.
Mattias tries to counter by clinching up but Kozlov breaks away and moves out of range.
Mattias closes the distance looking to clinch
and Kozlov counters with a right hand to the body.
Mattias tries to clinch there but Kozlov circles away.
As Mattias backs off Kozlov throws a huge counter combo but Mattias manages to avoid it all.
Kozlov throws a jab when Mattias was well out of range.

Kozlov pushes Mattias up against the cage in a clinch.
Mattias displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kozlov up against the cage.
Mattias tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kozlov gets underhooks to prevent Mattias's takedown attempt.
Kozlov fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Mattias pulls guard successfully.
Mattias tries to strike from the bottom.

Mattias looking for a guillotine here but Kozlov defends easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kozlov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

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.
Mattias keeping moving, preventing Kozlov from controlling successfully.
Kozlov wants to pass the guard but Mattias is keeping the position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Mattias swats away the attempt to clinch by Kozlov.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Horrible takedown attempt by Mattias or perhaps it was just good defense by Kozlov, which made it look bad.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fedor Kozlov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Kozlov shoots in and bounces Mattias off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Mattias wants to sweep here but Kozlov controlling him for the moment.

Mattias throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Kozlov escapes and throws Mattias's legs to the side, diving into side control!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kozlov gets to mount! Mattias was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Kozlov pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kozlov looking to ground and pound but Mattias is blocking nicely.
Mattias is trying to escape the mount.
Mattias squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Mattias tries to reverse the position but Kozlov maintains control.
Mattias holds of for dear life.
Kozlov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kozlov trying to control but Mattias is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Mattias is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Mattias reaches up to try and control the position but Kozlov seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Mattias rolls and tries to escape and now Kozlov has his back!
Kozlov is looking to control Mattias but Mattias is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Fedor Kozlov has got the better of the ground game so far.

Kozlov is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Mattias defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Kozlov is not going to allow Mattias to sit and survive in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kozlov working for a choke but Mattias is defending well.
Kozlov keeps control of the position as Mattias tries to break free.
Kozlov has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Mattias's body.
Kozlov missing with punches from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mattias is trying to stand back up.
Kozlov trying to control momentarily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mattias is really stuck here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fedor Kozlov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kozlov 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fedor Kozlov!