PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Matthias Kozlov (ranked 4717 p4p, 450 weight class) and Ted Raimi (ranked 23885 p4p, 0 weight class). Kozlov comes to the cage accompanied by Farewell of Slavianka. Matthias Kozlov has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Kozlov
vs
Raimi

193 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

176 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matthias Kozlov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ted Raimi!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Tiny Johnson and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kozlov closes the distance and clinches.
Kozlov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Raimi is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Kozlov pulls guard effortlessly.
Kozlov is controlling Raimi's posture.

Kozlov is looking for a triangle but Raimi pushes his legs off easily.
Kozlov controlling the position.

Kozlov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kozlov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kozlov tries to get out of the position.
Raimi trying to control but Kozlov is working from the bottom.

Raimi 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.
Raimi wants to pass the guard but Kozlov is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kozlov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Raimi wants to control from the top but Kozlov keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kozlov wants to sweep here but Raimi controlling him for the moment.

Raimi drops back looking for a leg! Kozlov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kozlov manages to kick Raimi off! Raimi jumps back into Kozlov's guard.

Raimi is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Kozlov is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Kozlov has escaped and now he's on top!

Kozlov stands up over Raimi, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Kozlov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kozlov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kozlov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kozlov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Raimi on the ground.
Kozlov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kozlov works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Raimi regains full guard. Nicely done.
Raimi keeping moving, preventing Kozlov from controlling successfully.
Kozlov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Kozlov is working Raimi over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Kozlov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kozlov is working Raimi over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Kozlov wants to control from the top but Raimi keeps moving.
Kozlov chips away with some ground and pound.

Raimi working for a triangle but Kozlov defends it easily.
Kozlov is in close to Raimi's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kozlov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kozlov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Kozlov definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Kozlov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kozlov scoring with some ground and pound.
Kozlov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Raimi's head.
Kozlov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Raimi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kozlov 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 trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Raimi trying to control the position.

Raimi looking for subs off his back but Kozlov has passed one foot through into half guard.
Ground and pound from Kozlov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Raimi with the active half guard here but Kozlov passes nicely into side control.
Raimi is trying to control Kozlov's posture but Kozlov avoids it.
Kozlov scores with a couple of short elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Check out the look on Kozlov's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Raimi tries to improve position but can't.
Kozlov scoring with punches from side control.

Kozlov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Raimi has escaped the position, nice work there.
Raimi seems a little lost for a moment, as Kozlov dominates the positioning.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kozlov grinds an elbow into Raimi's temple.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Raimi is not content to let Kozlov control the position.
Raimi is trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthias Kozlov dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Kozlov clinches up against the cage.

Kozlov drags the fight down to the ground.

Kozlov looking for a guillotine here but Raimi defends easily.
Raimi being controlled here momentarily.

Raimi drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Raimi jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Raimi is fighting to break Kozlov's control of his arms but Kozlov is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kozlov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Raimi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Raimi drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Raimi jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Raimi wants to control from the top but Kozlov keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kozlov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kozlov controlling Raimi's posture.

Kozlov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Raimi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Raimi stands up from Kozlov's guard - Raimi perhaps looking for a knockout.

Kozlov forces Raimi back against the cage and clinches.

Kozlov pulls guard effortlessly.

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

Raimi drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Raimi jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kozlov tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Raimi gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Raimi's corner calls for a 1-2. Raimi obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Raimi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Raimi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Raimi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kozlov looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Kozlov moves into the clinch.

Kozlov manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kozlov wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Kozlov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Kozlov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kozlov keeping moving, preventing Raimi from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kozlov looking for a guillotine here but Raimi defends easily.

Raimi has gone for a leg lock! Kozlov slips out almost immediately though and dives into Raimi's guard.

Kozlov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Raimi can do to turn this around?
Kozlov distracts Raimi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Raimi working a defensive guard here.
Kozlov trying to control but Raimi is working from the bottom.
Raimi is trying to keep Kozlov in close.

Raimi has his foot on Kozlov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kozlov works his way back into a safe position though.
Kozlov stands up over Raimi, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Raimi looking for a guillotine here but Kozlov defends easily.
Kozlov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Raimi working a defensive guard here.

Kozlov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Raimi has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kozlov has managed to get both his arms back between Raimi's legs - danger averted.
Kozlov scoring with punches to the head and body.

Raimi has his foot on Kozlov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kozlov works his way back into a safe position though.
Kozlov postures up and lands a big shot to Raimi's brow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kozlov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Raimi is keeping the position for now.
Kozlov is stalling in the full guard.
Kozlov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Raimi's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthias Kozlov dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Kozlov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Raimi, pushing him back against the cage.

Kozlov drags the fight down to the ground.
Raimi trying to control the position from guard on top but Kozlov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kozlov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Raimi is aware though and is defending well.
Raimi trying to control the position from guard on top but Kozlov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Raimi got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kozlov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Raimi has managed to get both his arms back between Kozlov's legs - danger averted.

Kozlov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kozlov is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raimi slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Raimi advances to mount.

Raimi looking to secure an arm triangle but Kozlov defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raimi avoids the attempt from Kozlov to control.
Kozlov is working to get back to half guard.
Kozlov regains half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Raimi is thwarting Kozlov's attempts to control the position.
Kozlov is looking for a sweep. Raimi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Raimi is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Raimi 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.
Kozlov wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kozlov looking for submissions off his back.
Kozlov tries to roll over but Raimi keeps him under control.

Raimi is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Kozlov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Raimi pulls his head out easily.

Kozlov actively working from the bottom here.
Kozlov is not content to let Raimi control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Raimi 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.
Kozlov is looking to control Raimi's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kozlov avoid being mounted?
Kozlov works his way to full guard. Good work.

Kozlov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Raimi is aware though and is defending well.

Kozlov looking for a guillotine here but Raimi defends easily.

Raimi drops back looking for a leg! Kozlov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kozlov manages to kick Raimi off! Raimi jumps back into Kozlov's guard.
Raimi wants to control from the top but Kozlov keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Kozlov trying to control the position here.

Raimi 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!

Raimi tries to bench press Kozlov off him but Kozlov keeps the position.
Kozlov scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Raimi to see if he's OK.
You can see the frustration on Raimi's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Kozlov working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Ted Raimi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matthias Kozlov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Raimi is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matthias Kozlov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kozlov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matthias Kozlov!
Matthias Kozlov tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.