PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Connor Cozad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randyl Tarly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cozad
vs
Tarly

173 cm
18
158 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
22
152 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Hell's Balls Fightwear

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Connor Cozad!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Randyl Tarly!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Wesley Smith and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tarly shoots in but no luck this time.
Cozad circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tarly pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Tarly throws a quick inside leg kick.
Horrible takedown by Tarly or perhaps it was just good defense by Cozad which made him look bad.
Tarly shoots in for a takedown but Cozad shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Connor Cozad has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Randyl Tarly.
Tarly moves in looking to clinch but Cozad pushes him off.
Tarly fails with a takedown attempt.
Cozad swats away the attempt to clinch by Tarly.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A low kick from Cozad misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Randyl Tarly seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tarly misses with a body shot.

Cozad fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Tarly sprawls well initially but Cozad persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Cozad seems content to control.
Cozad prevents Tarly from standing back up.
Tarly wants to improve his position but Cozad is controlling well.
Tarly trying to control from the bottom.
Cozad missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Tarly is looking to get back to full guard here but Cozad has managed to pass to side control instead.
Cozad content just to control the position here.
A nice elbow there by Cozad.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Cozad cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cozad controlling his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tarly working to try and regain half guard.
Tarly is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

Cozad jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Tarly is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Tarly and Cozad has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Cozad controls the position.
Tarly is looking to reverse the position.
Tarly can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cozad controlling from side mount.
Tarly prevents Cozad from moving into mount.
Cozad moves into full mount!
Cozad misses with a head shot.
Tarly avoids a series of strikes thrown by Cozad.

Cozad working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Cozad is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tarly manages to work his way to half guard, despite Cozad's best efforts.
Tarly is trying to maintain the position but Cozad is very close to passing his half guard.
Cozad has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Cozad missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Tarly wants to get back to full guard.
Tarly avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cozad.
Tarly tries to roll over but Cozad keeps him under control.
Cozad tries to pass the half guard into mount. Tarly knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor Cozad dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Tarly shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Cozad counters with a nice double leg into side control. Tarly won't be happy with that.

Cozad thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Cozad tries for a kimura but Tarly is defending well.
You can see the frustration on Tarly's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Cozad wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Tarly, who protects the arm well.
Tarly is trying to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cozad trying to control the action but Tarly is working from the bottom.
Tarly is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Cozad has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Cozad wants to control but Tarly is keeping him busy.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Tarly with a poor takedown

and Cozad counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Well, if Cozad 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.

Tarly is defending against the submission attempts here by Cozad.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tarly trying to hold on to Cozad's head to control him but Cozad postures up.
Tarly is not content to let Cozad control the position.
Tarly is looking for a sweep. Cozad is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Cozad is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Tarly defends it well.
Tarly is pressing down on Cozad's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tarly not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cozad throwing strikes but missing.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Tarly tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Cozad counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Cozad drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cozad jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Cozad looking to pass the guard.
Cozad trying to control but Tarly is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cozad content to stall in guard here.
Cozad postures up.
Cozad looking to pass the guard.
Cozad throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tarly works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tarly can't keep his opponent in guard - Cozad advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Cozad trying to control the pace.
Tarly wants to control but Cozad is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor Cozad dominated that second 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A punch combination from Tarly misses.
Tarly tries to clinch there but Cozad circles away.
Tarly throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Cozad decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Cozad is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Tarly doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cozad.
Tarly is trying to maintain the position but Cozad is very close to passing his half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tarly is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cozad content to control rather than advance.
Cozad misses with a head shot. Tarly uses the momentum to regain guard.
Tarly is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cozad is controlling him.

Cozad decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Tarly misses with the combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Cozad avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tarly with a lazy takedown attempt

and Cozad counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cozad.
Cozad trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cozad trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cozad trying to control the position from guard on top but Tarly is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tarly can't keep his opponent in guard - Cozad advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Cozad slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cozad thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Tarly tries to roll over but Cozad keeps him under control.
Connor Cozad overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cozad throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cozad trying to control the action but Tarly is working from the bottom.
Cozad throwing shots but Tarly is blocking nicely.
Tarly has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cozad is working away from the top position though.
Cozad content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tarly tries for a takedown but Cozad circles away easily

and Cozad counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Tarly's guard now.
Cozad trying to control but Tarly is working from the bottom.
Cozad trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Connor Cozad is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tarly wants to stand but Cozad is controlling the position.
Cozad trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cozad content to stall in guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Connor Cozad showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cozad, 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Connor Cozad!