PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jan Kozich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mirek Zmrd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jan Kozich has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kozich
vs
Zmrd

177 cm
19
154 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

177 cm
26
154 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jan Kozich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mirek Zmrd!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Matti Vanhoillinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zmrd moves in looking to clinch but Kozich pushes him off.
Kozich is looking to counter punch.
Kozich shoots in but no luck this time.

Zmrd decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Kozich is looking for a sweep. Zmrd is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Zmrd not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Zmrd not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Zmrd not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Zmrd looks winded!
Kozich is trying to control but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Zmrd in particular looking to stall.
Zmrd prevents Kozich from improving his position.
Zmrd throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zmrd prevents Kozich from improving his position.
Kozich is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Zmrd's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Zmrd's back!
Zmrd wants to control his opponent's hands but Kozich gets his hands free.
Kozich lands an elbow to the side of the head.
The referee is taking a good look at Zmrd as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Kozich!
Zmrd is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kozich somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.

Kozich looking for the RNC.
Zmrd is in bad spot here.

Zmrd manages to escape to his feet.
Kozich tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Zmrd manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mirek Zmrd seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zmrd dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kozich tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kozich looks to clinch
and Zmrd counters with a three punch combo that has Kozich backing up. Kozich nods at Zmrd to acknowledge the strikes.

Kozich pushes Zmrd up against the cage in a clinch.
Kozich misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zmrd changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kozich fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Kozich fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kozich doesn't manage to clinch there - Zmrd circles away.
Zmrd leaves Kozich with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Kozich closes the distance and clinches.

Kozich breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kozich tries to score a power double leg takedown but Zmrd sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kozich somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jan Kozich. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kozich clinches with his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kozich jumps guard but Zmrd stands there with Kozich around his waist. Kozich gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Zmrd blocks a body shot from Kozich.
Zmrd tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kozich just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kozich is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Kozich is trying to pull guard but Zmrd turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Zmrd breaks from the clinch.
Kozich fails in his attempt to clinch.
And Zmrd tries to counter it with a takedown but Kozich pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Kozich shoots in looking for a takedown but Zmrd manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kozich's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Zmrd slaps away a takedown attempt from Kozich, before circling back to the center of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mirek Zmrd will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kozich is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Zmrd.
Kozich tries to clinch up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kozich.
Zmrd throws a counter combo.
Kozich looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Zmrd tests Kozich's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kozich fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zmrd avoids it really well and circles away.
Zmrd is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kozich instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zmrd works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Kozich is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Zmrd presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Zmrd is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kozich to keep the fight standing.
Kozich tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Zmrd just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jan Kozich. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kozich breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zmrd fails with the takedown
and Kozich counters with a series of strikes. Zmrd will be more careful next time no doubt.

Kozich gets the takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zmrd is looking to reverse the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kozich works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Zmrd tries to escape but Kozich is in control.

Kozich decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Zmrd tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kozich manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kozich tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zmrd swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kozich misses with a two punch combination.

Kozich gets a takedown into half guard.
Kozich keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zmrd is looking for a sweep. Kozich is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Zmrd wants to control but Kozich is keeping busy.
Kozich tries to stand but can't do so whilst Zmrd controls his leg.
Kozich throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Zmrd looking for submissions off his back.
Kozich throwing shots but Zmrd is blocking nicely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kozich wants to clinch.
Zmrd blocks a head kick by Kozich.
Kozich goes for a double leg but Zmrd avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Zmrd continues to drive forward.
Kozich darts in looking for a takedown but Zmrd gets double underhooks and turns Kozich into the cage.
Kozich throws a right and a left that Zmrd avoids nicely.
Zmrd misses with a takedown attempt - Kozich sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jan Kozich dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Kozich dives in and grabs Zmrd's left leg, looking for a takedown. Zmrd pushes down on Kozich's head and hops out.

Kozich clinches up with Zmrd and pushes him back against the cage.
Kozich keeps control of Zmrd as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Zmrd fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kozich prevents Zmrd from breaking the clinch.
Kozich is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Zmrd gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Kozich has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Zmrd clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Zmrd defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zmrd breaks Kozich's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zmrd throws a big right hand that misses.
Zmrd throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kozich works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zmrd trying to control the position from guard on top but Kozich is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Zmrd working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Zmrd is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Zmrd throws a strike but Kozich rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

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.
Zmrd working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kozich.
Kozich has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kozich postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kozich trying to control but Zmrd is working from the bottom.
Zmrd avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kozich postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kozich prevents Zmrd from getting back to his feet.
Kozich wants to control from the top but Zmrd keeps moving.
Kozich is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kozich throwing strikes but missing.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kozich fails with a takedown attempt.
Zmrd is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jan Kozich. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kozich doesn't manage to clinch there - Zmrd circles away.
Sloppy strikes from Zmrd. Those never looked like landing.
Kozich looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zmrd is fending him off so far but Kozich persists. Nope, Zmrd circles away and we're back to standing.
Kozich misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nice takedown defense from Kozich. No joy for Zmrd on that attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kozich doesn't manage to clinch there - Zmrd circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zmrd looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zmrd throws a jab but it's blocked by Kozich.
A combination from Kozich does no damage.
Kozich throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Zmrd shoots and misses

and Kozich moves into the clinch.
Zmrd misses with a knee to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kozich wants a takedown but no success here.

Zmrd breaks the clinch.

Kozich manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Zmrd on his heels. He'll look to pass Zmrd's guard now, I'm sure.

Zmrd has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Kozich off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mirek Zmrd comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Mirek Zmrd!
A victorious Mirek Zmrd thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.