PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jorjo Kozacz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eduard Melkonyan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Melkonyan is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Boston – More Than A Feeling . Eduard Melkonyan will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Kozacz
vs
Melkonyan

186 cm
23
170 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

175 cm
20
179 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jorjo Kozacz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Eduard Melkonyan!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Illya Tyunina and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Melkonyan swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Kozacz counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Melkonyan looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Melkonyan wants to control but Kozacz is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kozacz will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Kozacz is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Kozacz is looking for a kimura here.

Kozacz is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Melkonyan has managed to free his arm - good work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kozacz is working for a submission of some sort.

Kozacz is looking for a kimura but Melkonyan is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kozacz to get the leverage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kozacz 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.

Melkonyan looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Kozacz seems to be working for a kimura but Melkonyan defends the submission attempt.
Melkonyan moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Kozacz drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Melkonyan dives on top into guard.

Melkonyan won't allow Kozacz to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Melkonyan slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Melkonyan trying to control the position from guard on top but Kozacz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melkonyan is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Melkonyan looking to pass the guard.
Kozacz tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kozacz keeping full guard, as Melkonyan tries to pass.
Kozacz wants to sweep but no luck.
Melkonyan trying to control but Kozacz is working from the bottom.

Kozacz looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kozacz 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melkonyan works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Kozacz wants to improve his position but Melkonyan is controlling well.
Kozacz is breathing heavily.
Melkonyan moves nicely into side control.

Melkonyan tries for a kimura but Kozacz is defending well.

Melkonyan looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Kozacz is trying to improve his position.
Melkonyan trying to control the position but Kozacz is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kozacz seems a little lost for a moment, as Melkonyan dominates the positioning.
Kozacz tries to bench press Melkonyan off him but Melkonyan keeps the position.
Melkonyan trying to control the position but Kozacz is working away.
Kozacz gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Kozacz works his way to full guard. Good work.
Kozacz tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kozacz wants to improve his position but instead Melkonyan has moved into half guard.
Melkonyan prevents Kozacz from improving his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Melkonyan is trying to control the action in half guard but Kozacz is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kozacz slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Melkonyan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kozacz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
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 Jorjo Kozacz will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Melkonyan changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Melkonyan goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Kozacz takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Melkonyan swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Kozacz counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Kozacz thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Kozacz is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Melkonyan has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Kozacz is looking to defend but Melkonyan has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Kozacz! Melkonyan pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Kozacz taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:51 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Eduard Melkonyan!
Eduard Melkonyan decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.