PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Fletcher Huntington (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Connor Cozad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Huntington comes to the cage accompanied by Verdi - Triumphal March from Aida. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Huntington
vs
Cozad

167 cm
22
151 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

173 cm
21
158 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very strong

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Fletcher Huntington!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Connor Cozad!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Robert Douchet and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cozad missing with a left hand there. Huntington was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A slow jab from Huntington misses its intended target.
Huntington thows a body shot but no joy.
Huntington pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Huntington throws a head kick that Cozad semi-blocks.
Cozad throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Huntington stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Cozad fails to land with a series of punches.
Cozad misses the jab.
Huntington misses with a straight left.
Cozad throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Huntington misses the jab.
Cozad throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Huntington misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cozad just misses with a punch to the body.
Cozad ducks right into an uppercut from Huntington.
Cozad tried to score with a low kick but Huntington checks it.
Huntington misses with a head kick.
A slow jab from Huntington misses its intended target.
Cozad staying out of range there.
Huntington connects with a single shot there.
Good shot there by Huntington.
Huntington pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Huntington throws a leg kick but Cozad moved away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huntington misses with a few strikes there.
Huntington misses with a jab to the body
and Cozad connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Cozad tries to close the distance and clinch but Huntington swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Huntington loads up on a big right hand but Cozad slips the punch.
Cozad bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Huntington connects with a body shot.
Cozad takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Cozad scores with a hook.
Cozad fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cozad misses with a wild body shot.
Cozad takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Huntington fails to land with a series of punches.
Cozad punishes Huntington's body with a nice straight punch.
Huntington scores with a decent looking hook.
Cozad misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Huntington.
Cozad takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Cozad shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Huntington on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Cozad fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cozad moves out of range as Huntington strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cozad lands with a nice body punch.
Huntington is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Huntington throws a shot to the body.
Huntington lands a lovely overhand right.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Huntington throws a body punch but Cozad moves out of range.
Huntington tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Huntington throws a hook but Cozad avoids it easily.
Cozad is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Huntington rather than just go for the knockout.
Cozad moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Huntington swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Huntington throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Huntington thows a body shot but no joy.
Cozad avoids the head kick by Huntington.
Fletcher Huntington seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Huntington takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Jab from Huntington.
Cozad doesn't manage to clinch there - Huntington circles away.
Cozad on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Huntington plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Huntington throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Huntington scores with a decent looking hook.

Cozad is rocked!
Cozad avoids the head kick by Huntington.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cozad closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Huntington to the mat! Huntington manages to get full guard.
Cozad preventing the sweep.

Huntington is looking for a triangle but Cozad pushes his legs off easily.
Huntington is breathing heavily.
Huntington keeping moving, preventing Cozad from controlling successfully.
Huntington is trying to control the position but Cozad postures up.

Huntington has his foot on Cozad's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cozad works his way back into a safe position though.
Cozad pushing down on Huntington's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Cozad lands a nice short elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cozad working the head and body with strikes.
Huntington is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cozad's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cozad's back!
Cozad rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Cozad is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Huntington thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cozad's head.
Huntington missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Huntington is looking to advance position but Cozad won't allow it.
Cozad gets full guard.
Huntington looking to pass the guard.
Huntington being controlled here momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Huntington wants to pass the guard but Cozad is keeping the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cozad is trying to keep Huntington in close.

Cozad throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Fletcher Huntington will probably get the nod.
That's time! Huntington's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Huntington waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cozad.
Huntington ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Cozad shoots in for a takedown but Huntington shows good takedown defense.
Huntington throws a hook but Cozad blocks it.
Huntington throws an overhand right that lands on Cozad's shoulder, as Cozad tries to avoid the shot.
Huntington thows a body shot but no joy.
Huntington lands a head shot.
Cozad takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Huntington connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Huntington fails to land with a series of punches.
Cozad bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Left hook, right uppercut from Huntington.
Nice shot by Huntington.
Cozad is still on wobbly legs! Can Huntington finish him?
Huntington misses the jab.
Cozad seems to have recovered his senses.
Huntington misses with a body shot
and Cozad makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Cozad keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A lazy left from Huntington finds it's target.
Huntington lands an overhand right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huntington throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Huntington throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Fletcher Huntington is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Huntington dodges the punch combination from Cozad.
Huntington looks to land a combination. Cozad sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Huntington misses with a head kick.
Huntington looks to throw the jab but Cozad is out of range.
Huntington throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cozad fails with the takedown.
Huntington throws a sloppy head kick and Cozad moves out of range easily.
Cozad staying out of range there.
Cozad ducks under a wild hook from Huntington.
Huntington throws a series of punches but Cozad avoids them all with ease.
Connor Cozad is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cozad throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cozad throws the left hand but Huntington avoids the punch easily.
Huntington fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Huntington pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cozad pushes Huntington up against the cage in a clinch.
Huntington throws an elbow but it misses.
Huntington creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Cozad's defenses.
Cozad scores with a shoulder strike.
Huntington pushes off an throws an elbow but Cozad leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Cozad goes for a takedown attempt but Huntington pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Fletcher Huntington has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Connor Cozad.
Cozad listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Cozad takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Huntington scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Cozad staying out of range there.
Huntington misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Huntington thuds a left hand into Cozad's body.
Huntington throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Huntington misses with a body shot
and Cozad counters with a stiff right hand.
Huntington misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cozad looks to land a combination but Huntington avoids it well.
Cozad staying out of range there.
Huntington tries to bum rush Cozad with a series of wild strikes but Cozad uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Huntington connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Cozad momentarily.
Huntington takes a swing at Cozad's ribcage but misses.
Fletcher Huntington is winning the standup battle so far.
Huntington connects with a jab.
Huntington pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cozad uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Huntington.
Cozad avoids the head kick by Huntington.
Huntington throws a sloppy head kick and Cozad moves out of range easily.
A slapping leg kick lands for Huntington.
Huntington doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Cozad feints and as Huntington raises his hands in defense, Cozad changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cozad is breathing heavily.

Huntington working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cozad doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cozad manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Cozad pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Huntington is keeping the position for now.
Cozad sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Huntington's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Huntington works his way to full guard. Good work.
Huntington looking for a sweep. Not yet Huntington, not yet.
Cozad lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Huntington is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cozad slips nicely into half guard.
Huntington tries to get to full guard but Cozad has control of the leg.
Huntington tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Cozad has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Huntington tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cozad throws the left hand but Huntington avoids the punch easily.
Huntington lands a nice shot that snaps Cozad's head back.
Huntington throws a right and a left that Cozad avoids nicely.
Cozad avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Cozad tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Huntington paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Huntington missing with a left hand there. Cozad was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Huntington misses with a looping right.
Huntington keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cozad.
Cozad takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Cozad uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Huntington.
Huntington throws a head kick that misses.
Huntington misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Cozad throws a low kick but it's checked well by Huntington.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Huntington. Cozad does a little dance to reset his feet.
A swing and a miss from Huntington.
Huntington throws a head kick that misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cozad is defended easily by Huntington.
Huntington jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huntington scores with a decent looking hook.
Huntington scores with a jab to the body.
Huntington does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Cozad has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Huntington throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Cozad throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Horrible takedown by Cozad or perhaps it was just good defense by Huntington which made him look bad.
Cozad takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Huntington moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Huntington throws a chopping leg kick but Cozad manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Huntington tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cozad was well out of range. Poor timing from Huntington.
Huntington pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cozad just misses with a punch to the body.

Cozad moves into the clinch.
Huntington misses with an elbow over the top.
Huntington throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Huntington trying to land knees to the body.
Cozad wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Huntington with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Cozad is stalling here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Huntington scores with a nice short uppercut.
Huntington lands a nice elbow.
Huntington misses with an elbow strike.
Huntington landing knees to the head.
Huntington throws an elbow that misses.
Cozad blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Huntington.
Huntington with a knee to the head.

Cozad breaks from the clinch.
Cozad slips a jab from Huntington.
Cozad misses with an uppercut. Huntington saw that one coming.
Huntington throws a sloppy head kick
and Cozad counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Cozad scores with a takedown into Huntington's guard.
Cozad missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Huntington looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Cozad passes into side control.
Huntington is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Cozad off and has taken his back!
Connor Cozad has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Huntington is trying to stick to Cozad's back but Cozad is turning into Huntington. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Huntington's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Cozad.
Cozad stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Huntington swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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

Huntington is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Cozad landing some decent shots from guard.
Cozad advances to half guard.
Cozad wants to pass the guard but Huntington is defending well.
Cozad uses his free foot to push down on Huntington's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Huntington.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Huntington is in all sorts of trouble here.
Huntington regains half guard.
Huntington wants to control but Cozad is keeping busy.

Huntington is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cozad pulls his head out easily.
Cozad scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Cozad seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Huntington does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Huntington looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Cozad pushes past his half guard into mount!
Cozad working Huntington over with strikes here.
Cozad scores with a couple of good head shots there.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Connor Cozad.
I think Huntington has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fletcher Huntington!