PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Illac Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Connor Cozad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Diaz
vs
Cozad

174 cm
23
145 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

173 cm
22
158 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Illac Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Connor Cozad!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Dillan Fox and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cozad throws a nice looking combination but Diaz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cozad throws a one two combo.
Diaz scores with a nice head shot.
Diaz digs a good body shot into Cozad's ribs.
Cozad misses the body punch
and Diaz counters with a straight right hand.
Diaz misses the shot to the body.
Diaz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cozad swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cozad dives in and grabs Diaz's left leg, looking for a takedown. Diaz pushes down on Cozad's head and hops out.
Nice body punch from Diaz.
Nice straight punches there by Cozad. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Cozad.
Cozad misses with a body punch
and Diaz connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Diaz is looking to wear down Cozad with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Diaz misses with a body shot
and Cozad counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cozad throws a combination that misses
and Diaz counters with a nice uppercut.
Cozad takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Cozad uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Diaz.
Cozad throws a left and a right that both miss
and Diaz counters with a stiff right hand.

Cozad is rocked!
Illac Diaz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Diaz moves into the clinch.
Diaz gets through Cozad's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Diaz misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cozad lands a body shot.
Diaz is pushing Cozad up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Diaz prevents a body shot from Cozad.
Stalling in the clinch from Diaz.
A head punch on the inside from Cozad fails to land.
Diaz lands an uppercut.
Cozad blocks an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cozad tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Diaz manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Diaz lands a left hand that snaps the head of Cozad backwards.

Cozad jumps into guard, dragging Diaz to the mat.
Diaz not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Cozad is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cozad can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Diaz controls the pace.
Cozad wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Illac Diaz.
Cozad jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cozad throws a body punch but Diaz moves out of range.
Danga de danga de dang - Cozad scores with a four punch combination!
Cozad throws a sloppy body shot
and Diaz counters with a stiff right hand.
A jab from Cozad misses.
Cozad fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Diaz avoids it really well and circles away.
Cozad fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Diaz avoids it really well and circles away.
Illac Diaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Connor Cozad.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cozad misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Diaz counters with a nice body shot.
Cozad looks gassed!
Cozad misses with a takedown attempt - Diaz sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cozad circles away from the clinch attempt

and Cozad decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Diaz's guard.
Diaz knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cozad on the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Diaz is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Diaz is trying to control the position from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Diaz is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Illac Diaz dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Diaz takes a swing at Cozad's ribcage but misses.
Cozad lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Cozad has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Diaz finds it's way round the side to connect with Cozad's head.
Diaz looks to throw the jab but Cozad is out of range.
Diaz swings for the body but Cozad moves out of range.
Diaz lands a slapping body shot.
Diaz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cozad moves away.
Diaz misses with a body shot.
Cozad lands with a hook. Diaz tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Diaz lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cozad misses with a shot to the body
enabling Diaz to counter with a crisp jab.
Diaz misses with a hook to the body
and Cozad counters with a stiff right hand.
Cozad with a lazy takedown attempt
and Diaz counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cozad is still on wobbly legs! Can Diaz finish him?
Diaz takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Cozad seems to have recovered his senses.
Diaz misses with a body shot
and Cozad counters with a nice uppercut.
Diaz takes one on the button.
Diaz lands the left hand.
Cozad keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cozad looks to score with a jab to the body but Diaz is just out of range.
Illac Diaz is winning the standup battle so far.
Nice defenses there by Cozad.
Diaz fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Cozad on the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cozad jabs at Diaz's body.
Diaz misses with a hook to the body
letting Cozad counter with a right hand.
Diaz misses with a jab to the body

and Cozad counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diaz on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Diaz is trying to control but can't.
Diaz tries to get to full guard but Cozad has control of the leg.
Diaz wants to get back to full guard but Cozad has passed into side control.
Diaz can't escape the position.
Cozad scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Diaz?
Diaz can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cozad lands a big elbow.
Cozad working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Diaz working to try and regain half guard.
Diaz wants to control but Cozad is having none of it.
Cozad thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Cozad working Diaz over with strikes here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cozad cracks Diaz with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Cozad has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Diaz is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Cozad landing shots from mount.
Diaz wants to control but Cozad is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Cozad is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Diaz is surviving well by controlling Cozad's body position as best he can.
Cozad is breathing heavily.
Diaz is desperately trying to improve his position but Cozad has a good base and remains in mount.
Cozad trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Diaz is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Diaz sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Cozad is trying to control. Diaz wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cozad missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cozad passes to side control.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor Cozad showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Diaz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Diaz slips a jab from Cozad.
Cozad fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Diaz on the side of the head.
Cozad throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cozad thows a body shot but no joy.
Cozad throws a right hand that Diaz ducks under and follows up with a left that Diaz also avoids with ease.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cozad swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cozad uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Diaz.
Cozad misses with a shot to the body
and Diaz counters with a left to the body.
Cozad takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cozad swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Diaz counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Cozad thinking.

Diaz clinches with his opponent.
Diaz blocks an uppercut.
Cozad wants to break free but Diaz has control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Diaz manages to break the clinch.
Connor Cozad seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diaz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice shot lands for Diaz.
Diaz misses with a body punch
and Cozad counters with a nice uppercut.
Diaz scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Cozad walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A lazy left from Diaz finds it's target.
Diaz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cozad manages to avoid it.
Diaz lands a nice looking body shot.
Diaz throws a shot to the body.
Diaz uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Cozad has time to react.
Diaz swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Diaz swings for the body but Cozad moves out of range.
Diaz throws a hook to the side of Cozad's head but Cozad sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Diaz tries to clinch but Cozad moves out of range.
Diaz punishes Cozad's body with a nice straight punch.
Cozad comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Diaz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cozad misses with a hook. Diaz ducked under it nicely.
Cozad is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Diaz.
Diaz moves out of range of the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz misses with a hook to the body
and Cozad counters with a left to the body.
Diaz misses with a body shot.
Diaz looks to land a right hand but Cozad moved out of range.
Cozad misses with a shot to the body
and Diaz counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cozad takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Diaz fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Cozad swings for the body but Diaz moves out of range.
Diaz lands a nice hook to Cozad's body. Cozad takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Diaz cracks Cozad with a right hand to the side of the head.
Diaz throws a body punch but Cozad moves out of range.
Cozad fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Diaz avoids it really well and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A shot to the liver by Diaz. Beautiful body shot.

Cozad closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Diaz manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Diaz postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Cozad to stand up.
Diaz tries to clinch there but Cozad circles away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cozad throws a sloppy body shot
letting Diaz counter with a right hand.
Cozad slips under a jab from Diaz.

And that's the end of the fight!
Illac Diaz showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Diaz 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Illac Diaz!