PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ilia Kosarev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Elzavir Ozric (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Kosarev
vs
Ozric

180 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

210 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ilia Kosarev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Elzavir Ozric!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Peter Branson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kosarev rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ozric moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ozric showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kosarev.
Ozric explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Ozric displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kosarev throws out the jab.
Ozric throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Kosarev misses with a lunging right hand

and Ozric counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ozric.
Ozric wants to control from the top but Kosarev keeps moving.

Ozric decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Kosarev displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ozric.
Kosarev shoots in but Ozric avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Ozric closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ozric pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
No luck for Ozric with that takedown attempt.
Ozric avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ozric drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kosarev defends it well.
Ozric shoots for a double leg takedown but Kosarev sprawls well. He's pushed Ozric's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ilia Kosarev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Elzavir Ozric.
Kosarev throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ozric is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Ozric forces Kosarev back against the cage and clinches.
Ozric taking a breather.
Kosarev tries to score a body lock takedown but Ozric shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Kosarev is breathing heavily.

Ozric breaks from the clinch.
Kosarev scores with a nice strike.
Kosarev throws a front kick aimed at Ozric's knee but Ozric avoids it well.
Ilia Kosarev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ozric throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kosarev stuffs the takedown attempt from Ozric. Ozric gets slowly back to his feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ozric. Kosarev does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ozric looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kosarev is fending him off so far but Ozric persists. Nope, Kosarev circles away and we're back to standing.

Ozric feints and as Kosarev raises his hands in defense, Ozric changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ozric wants to control from the top but Kosarev keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ozric wants to pass the guard but Kosarev is keeping the position.

Ozric postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Kosarev is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Ozric, into his guard.

Ozric is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ozric working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kosarev doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kosarev manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kosarev stopping the sweep attempt from Ozric.

Ozric had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kosarev defends it easily.
Kosarev stays in close to Ozric's body and controls the position.
Ozric trying to control the position.

Kosarev gets to his feet. Ozric looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Kosarev throws a right and a left that Ozric avoids nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Elzavir Ozric will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kosarev throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And Ozric responds with a good body kick, but Kosarev manages to step out the way in time.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ozric.
Ozric fails with a takedown attempt.
Kosarev closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ozric circles away.
Ozric showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kosarev.
Ozric is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Ozric uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kosarev.
Kosarev fails to land with a series of punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kosarev stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kosarev wants it to stay on the feet.
Ilia Kosarev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Elzavir Ozric.
Kosarev fails to land with a series of punches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Ozric gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Ozric jumps guard and drags Kosarev to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kosarev wants to control from the top but Ozric keeps moving.

Kosarev stands and steps away. Ozric gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Ozric uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kosarev.

Kosarev tries to keep at a distance but Ozric has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ozric tries a body shot but Kosarev blocks it.

Ozric pulls guard successfully.
Kosarev might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kosarev controls from within his opponent's guard.

Ozric throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ozric tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kosarev stays in close to Ozric's body and controls the position.
Elzavir Ozric has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ozric pulls Kosarev in close to prevent any damage.
Kosarev would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Ozric has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Kosarev has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Ozric is pushing Kosarev up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Kosarev wants to break free but Ozric has control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ozric decides to pull guard.
Kosarev wants to control from the top but Ozric keeps moving.
Ozric is trying to control the position but Kosarev postures up.
Kosarev sitting in guard here, content to control.
Ozric has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Kosarev avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kosarev has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ozric is proving hard to escape from.

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.

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

Kosarev stands and steps away. Ozric gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Ozric fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ozric takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Ozric is looking to clinch but Kosarev is avoiding it.
Kosarev doesn't manage to clinch there - Ozric circles away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kosarev throws a hook but Ozric avoids it easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kosarev.
Ozric drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kosarev defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Elzavir Ozric will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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.

Ozric shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Ozric showed some decent athleticism there.
Kosarev scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Ozric manages to mount him!
Ozric throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kosarev squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Ozric wants to control the pace but Kosarev is squirming around nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Ozric is standing up, even though he is in mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ozric misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kosarev.
Kosarev throws a shot from downtown. Ozric moves away and avoids it.
Ozric changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
The fighters circling - Kosarev throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Ozric moves into range and clinches up with Kosarev.
Ozric has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kosarev is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Ozric is stalling here.
Kosarev can't break the clinch.
Ozric controlling the action here for a moment.

Ozric drags the fight down to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kosarev postures up.

Ozric looking for a guillotine here but Kosarev defends easily.
Kosarev cracks Ozric with a solid left hand.
Kosarev engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Kosarev has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Ozric has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Kosarev has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kosarev tries to break the clinch but Ozric is controlling the position.

Ozric pulls guard effortlessly.
Ozric wants to sweep but no luck.
Kosarev wants to stand but Ozric is controlling his posture from full guard.

Kosarev decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Ilia Kosarev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Ozric rushes Kosarev and presses him up against the cage.

Ozric jumps guard and drags Kosarev to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Ozric keeping moving, preventing Kosarev from controlling successfully.
Ozric really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kosarev. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ozric wants to stand but Kosarev is controlling the position.

Ozric has his foot on Kosarev's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kosarev works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ozric had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kosarev defends it easily.
Kosarev 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.
Kosarev postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Ozric is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kosarev is aware though and is defending well.
Kosarev stands up over Ozric, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Kosarev content to stall in guard here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ozric pushes Kosarev off and scrambles back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Elzavir Ozric comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ozric winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Elzavir Ozric!