PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mirko Kozlov (ranked 1645 p4p, 24894 weight class) and Kieth Stokes (ranked 219 p4p, 496 weight class). Mirko Kozlov has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Kozlov
vs
Stokes

183 cm
28
160
3 - 0 - 0

170 cm
20
160
0 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Fantasy Threads (Laundry 15%)

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mirko Kozlov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kieth Stokes!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kozlov gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Stokes slips a jab from Kozlov.
Kozlov misses with a hook.
Kozlov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stokes.
Kozlov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kozlov on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Stokes smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Stokes connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Stokes lands a nice looking kick to the body. Kozlov takes a step back to recover.
Stokes circles away from the clinch attempt.
Stokes lands with a cross.
Kozlov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kozlov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Stokes circles away quickly and effectively.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Stokes scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Kozlov won't allow Stokes to pass to mount.
Stokes trying to control the pace.
Kozlov trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stokes works his way into full mount!
Kozlov holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Stokes tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kozlov really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Kozlov tries to lock up and control but Stokes gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kozlov is looking to get to half guard.
Kozlov is squirming around, avoiding Stokes's attempts to control the action.
We've been hearing good reports from Kozlov's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kozlov takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Stokes with shots to the head and body - Kozlov looks very uncomfortable down there.
Stokes looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Kozlov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kozlov is squirming around, avoiding Stokes's attempts to control the action.
Kozlov wants to hold on but Stokes pushes him away.
Kozlov is looking to improve his position but Stokes isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kozlov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kozlov taking shots to the head.
Stokes controlling his opponent.
Stokes looking to finish with strikes here!
Kozlov tries to reverse the position but Stokes maintains control.
Stokes controlling from mount.
Kozlov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Stokes throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Stokes looking to finish with strikes here!
Stokes misses with a head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stokes avoids the attempt from Kozlov to control.
Stokes prevents Kozlov from getting the reversal.
Stokes avoids the attempt from Kozlov to control.
Stokes sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Stokes in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Stokes looking to control but Kozlov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kozlov wants to hold on but Stokes pushes him away.
Kozlov tries to reverse the position but Stokes maintains control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kieth Stokes dominated that round.
That's time! Kozlov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kozlov throws a looping overhand right but Stokes ducks down to avoid it.
Kozlov fails with a takedown attempt.
Stokes connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Stokes lands with a shot to the body.
Stokes has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Kieth Stokes seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Stokes shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Kozlov eats them both and turns towards Stokes to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Stokes scores with a decent looking hook.
Kieth Stokes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Stokes drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kozlov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Stokes controls from within his opponent's guard.
Kozlov pulls Stokes in close to prevent any damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kozlov has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kozlov being controlled here, momentarily.
Stokes being controlled here momentarily.
Stokes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Kozlov has his foot on Stokes's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Stokes works his way back into a safe position though.
Kozlov working a defensive guard here.
Kozlov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Stokes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kozlov is keeping the position for now.
Stokes is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kozlov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Stokes is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Stokes lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Stokes scores with a hook.
Stokes smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Stokes looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Kozlov!
Kozlov is trying to control Stokes's posture but Stokes avoids it.
Kozlov tries to buck Stokes off but Stokes is having none of it.
Kozlov is not content to let Stokes control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Stokes trying to control the position but Kozlov is working away.
Stokes is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Kozlov managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Stokes.
Kozlov is trying to control Stokes's posture but Stokes avoids it.
Kozlov parries the strikes from Stokes easily there. Stokes is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Kozlov to escape.
Stokes trying to control the position but Kozlov is working away.

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.
The ground and pound from Stokes seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Stokes tries to advance to mount but can't.
Kozlov can't do much from the bottom here.
Stokes working the head and body with strikes.
Kozlov is looking to reverse the position.
Stokes working away.
Stokes moves into full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stokes looking to control and managing it successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kozlov has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Stokes's lack of action.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kieth Stokes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Stokes lands a nice looking body kick.
Kozlov on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
The fighters circling - Kozlov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A solid leg kick lands there for Stokes.
Stokes changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Stokes displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kozlov throws out the jab.
Stokes throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Stokes lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Stokes on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Stokes lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Kozlov tries to move into range but Stokes moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stokes works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Stokes connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kozlov's hands.
Stokes misses with a jab, cross combination.
A telegraphed right hand from Kozlov misses the target.
Kozlov tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kozlov misses with a straight left.

Kozlov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Stokes to the mat! Stokes manages to get full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Stokes is on top in guard.

Stokes controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Kozlov is trying to hold Stokes in close to prevent damage but Stokes has managed to pass into half guard.

Stokes thows an elbow strike that misses. Kozlov gets hold of full guard and has managed to get a loose guillotine attempt. Stokes doesn't seem too bothered but Kozlov quickly shifts his position and has tightened the hold! Stokes is in big trouble now - he's going a funny colour - he's tapping out! Nice finish there! Stokes really should have spotted the danger earlier though... either incompetence or over-confidence has resulted in a big L on his record.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Mirko Kozlov!
Mirko Kozlov 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.