PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Stacey Poole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yevgeni Kozlov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kozlov has chosen For those about to Rock as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Poole
vs
Kozlov

165 cm
25
141 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

168 cm
25
155 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Stacey Poole!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Yevgeni Kozlov!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Michael Johnstone and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kozlov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Poole sprawls well. Poole wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kozlov gets slowly back to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Poole looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Poole closes the distance and clinches.
Kozlov's coach down at Cozad The Island was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Kozlov's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Kozlov can't get the takedown.
I was talking to Poole's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Kozlov goes for a takedown attempt but Poole pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Stacey Poole has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yevgeni Kozlov.
Poole looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kozlov is fending him off so far but Poole persists. Nope, Kozlov circles away and we're back to standing.

Kozlov throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Poole was covering up waiting for the punch and Kozlov finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Poole being controlled here, momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kozlov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Kozlov is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Kozlov decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Poole, up you get!
Kozlov takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Poole gets caught flat footed, as Kozlov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Poole is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Poole is trying to break the clinch but Kozlov is controlling him.

Kozlov gets control of Poole's arms and successfully pulls guard. Kozlov will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poole stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kozlov swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Kozlov looking for a guillotine here but Poole defends easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Poole wants to stand up, so he's looking to wriggle free of Kozlov's closed guard. He's half up but Kozlov has locked on to an arm! Uh oh! Kozlov pivots and extends the arm, Poole falls face first to the mat and taps??... does he?? YES! He's tapping! Excellent counter grappling there by Kozlov! Well done that man!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:36 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Yevgeni Kozlov!
Yevgeni Kozlov spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.