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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Pope Cozad (ranked 3307 p4p, 4343 weight class) and Toshika Koga (ranked 319 p4p, 421 weight class). Cozad comes to the cage accompanied by Spirit In The Sky- Norman Greenbaum. Pope Cozad had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 156.5lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
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| 181 cm
29
170
11 - 11 - 0 |
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169 cm
28
155
6 - 3 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin |
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Olympic wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank |
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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 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Pope Cozad!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Toshika Koga!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cozad keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Cozad lands a nice shot that snaps Koga's head back.
Cozad swings for the body but Koga moves out of range.
And Koga tries to counter it with a takedown but Cozad pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Koga fails with a takedown attempt.
Cozad appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Cozad listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice shot by Cozad.
Koga closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Cozad's guard.
Koga prevents Cozad from getting back to his feet.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Koga controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Koga won't allow Cozad to get back to his feet.
Koga advances to half guard.
Koga stops Cozad from getting back to his feet.
Koga is controlling the pace.
Koga prevents Cozad from standing back up.
Koga tries to pass the half guard into mount. Cozad knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Koga takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Koga prevents Cozad from standing back up.
That's two 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.
Koga keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Koga prevents Cozad from standing back up.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Koga throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Cozad tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Koga is in Cozad's guard.
Cozad wants to stand up but Koga is controlling him.
Koga is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Cozad is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Koga is controlling him.
Koga advances to half guard.
Well, if Koga is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Koga's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
My spies in Gold Samurai's Gym inform me that Koga has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cozad looks like he's trying to stand up.
Koga passes to full mount!
Koga tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Cozad has given up his back.
Cozad is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Koga.
Well, with Koga on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Cozad is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
That's four minutes gone in the round.
More stalling from Koga.
Cozad is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Koga is riding his opponent, not letting Cozad buck him off.
Let's hope that Koga has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
It looks like Koga might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Toshika Koga dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.
Koga fails with the takedown.
Cozad lands a really nice looking cross but Koga seems unphased.
Koga with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Cozad to score with a decent uppercut.
Koga feints and as Cozad raises his hands in defense, Koga changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cozad wants to get back to his feet but Koga is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cozad will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Koga controls from within his opponent's guard.
Koga tries to free his leg and advance position but Cozad is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koga controls from within his opponent's guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Koga stands and throws Cozad's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Koga remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Cozad is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Koga has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Koga controlling the position.
Cozad pushes Koga away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Koga gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Koga in side control, just content to control the action for now.
That's two 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.
Cozad is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Koga asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Koga controls the position.
Cozad is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Koga asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Koga advances to full mount.
Koga looking to control and managing it successfully.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koga won't let Cozad get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Koga tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Koga moves to back control.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cozad is trying to get back to his feet but Koga has full control of the position and if anything, Cozad has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Koga controls the position.
Toshika Koga has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cozad is trying to get back to his feet but Koga has full control of the position and if anything, Cozad has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Koga has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Koga is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cozad is trying to stand back up.
Koga is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Toshika Koga showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get 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.
Koga fails with a takedown attempt.
Koga misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Koga closes the distance and clinches up with Cozad, looking for a takedown. Koga pushes Cozad against the cage but Cozad circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Pope Cozad has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Toshika Koga.
No luck for Koga with that takedown attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Koga.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cozad misses with a body kick.
Koga shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Cozad misses with a series of wild punches.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cozad throws a lazy body kick
and Koga counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Koga.
Koga is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Koga with more of the same as he continues to hold on.
Koga trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Koga prevents Cozad from getting back to his feet.
Koga wants to pass the guard but Cozad is keeping the position.
Cozad is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
It looks like Cozad has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cozad displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Koga.
Horrible takedown attempt by Koga or perhaps it was just good defense by Cozad, which made it look bad.
Cozad lands a lovely overhand right.
Cozad scores with a nice right hand.
Koga shoots and misses
and Cozad cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Koga is rocked!
Cozad dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Koga takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Koga shoots in but Cozad avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cozad moves into range and connects with a jab.
Koga is still on wobbly legs! Can Cozad finish him?
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cozad stuffs the takedown.
Koga seems to have recovered his senses.
Koga doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Cozad counters with a body kick.
Cozad connects with a crisp jab.
Koga looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Cozad!
Cozad pushes Koga away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Koga gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Cozad gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Koga wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Koga sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cozad is trying to stand.
Koga looking to control and managing it successfully.
Koga with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Koga looking to control and managing it successfully.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Koga.
Pope Cozad has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Koga moves to take his opponent's back.
And that's the end of the fight!
Pope Cozad showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Koga has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Toshika Koga!
After winning the bout, Toshika Koga thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
32% |
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