PBP Commentary

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

Cozad
vs
Leonard

173 cm
22
158 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

176 cm
23
145 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Connor Cozad!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jill Leonard!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Robert Douchet and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leonard throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Leonard fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Cozad dives in and grabs Leonard's left leg, looking for a takedown. Leonard pushes down on Cozad's head and hops out.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Cozad checks a leg kick.
Cozad throws a jab when Leonard was well out of range.
Good standup being displayed there by Leonard as he connects with a hook.
Cozad keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cozad uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Leonard.
Leonard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Leonard throws a low kick but it's checked well by Cozad.
Leonard slips a straight right by Cozad.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leonard tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Cozad is able to avoid easily.
Cozad throws a jab when Leonard was well out of range.
Leonard ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Leonard pivots, looking for a leg kick but Cozad is out of range and Leonard settles back down.
Leonard keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Jill Leonard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cozad shoots in looking for a takedown but Leonard manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cozad's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Leonard lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Cozad misses with a hook.
Cozad shoots for a takedown but Leonard saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Connor Cozad. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cozad lands with an overhand left.
Leonard lands a nice hook to Cozad's body. Cozad takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Cozad throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Connor Cozad seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cozad tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Leonard swivels and escapes.
Cozad bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Leonard's head backwards.
Cozad jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cozad is defended easily by Leonard.
Leonard connects with an inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cozad lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Leonard tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cozad swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cozad looks to land a left hand but Leonard moved out of range nicely.
Leonard throws a front kick aimed at Cozad's knee but Cozad avoids it well.
Leonard misses with a leg kick.
Cozad tries to bum rush Leonard with a series of wild strikes but Leonard uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A big left from Cozad misses.
Cozad is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Leonard tries a low kick but Cozad avoids it.
Leonard leaves Cozad with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Leonard fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cozad manages to avoid it.
Cozad throws a hook but Leonard blocks it.
A good leg kick by Leonard.
Cozad checks a leg kick nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cozad misses with a hook. Leonard ducked under it nicely.
Cozad ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Leonard moves away.
Leonard finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Leonard getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Leonard lands a nice hook to Cozad's body. Cozad takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Leonard, right into the meat.
Leonard fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Cozad.
Leonard throws a head kick that misses.
Cozad throws an overhand right that lands on Leonard's shoulder, as Leonard tries to avoid the shot.
Cozad blocks a leg kick.
A slow jab from Leonard misses its intended target.
Cozad rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Leonard moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Leonard uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cozad.

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.
No luck for Cozad with that takedown attempt.
Leonard scoring well with a low kick there.
Leonard turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Leonard is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Cozad rather than just go for the knockout.
Leonard uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cozad.
Cozad on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Cozad throws a right hand that Leonard ducks under and follows up with a left that Leonard also avoids with ease.
A jab from Cozad misses.
Leonard turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Leonard, right into the meat.
Cozad misses with a looping right.
Cozad lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Leonard at a distance.
Leonard slips a jab from Cozad.
Leonard slips under a jab from Cozad.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cozad misses the jab.
Leonard thumps Cozad with a low kick.
Cozad misses with a jab, cross combination.
Jab by Leonard.
Leonard throws a leg kick that misses.
Leonard tries to close the distance and clinch but Cozad swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Leonard moves into range and connects with a jab.
A solid leg kick lands there for Leonard.
Cozad lands with a cross.
Leonard throws out a leg kick but Cozad moves out of range and Leonard only half commits.
Cozad on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Leonard. Leonard obviously looking to wear him down.
Leonard ducks under a wild hook from Cozad.
Leonard throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Cozad misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cozad walks into a jab.
Leonard cracks Cozad with a good jab.
Leonard with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Cozad has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Cozad there as he acknowledges the shot.
Leonard connects with an inside leg kick.
Cozad fails to land the takedown.
Cozad shoots in but no luck this time.
Cozad avoids the head kick by Leonard.
Leonard attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Cozad throws a right and a left that Leonard avoids nicely.
Cozad misses the shot to the body.
Leonard throws a leg kick but Cozad sees it coming and moves out of range.
Leonard throws a low kick, looking for Cozad's leg but Cozad calmly moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonard uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cozad.
Cozad misses with a double jab.
Leonard turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A jab from Cozad misses.

Cozad drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Leonard wants to control but Cozad postures up.
Leonard is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Cozad is staying active.
Leonard stops Cozad from passing to mount.

Cozad is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Leonard has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
What's Leonard going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Leonard is trying to control Cozad's posture but Cozad avoids it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Cozad throws an elbow but Leonard slips to the side and avoids it well.

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.
Cozad trying to control the position but Leonard is working away.

Cozad is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Leonard knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Leonard is trying to control Cozad's posture but Cozad avoids it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Leonard sneaks back into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jill Leonard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Cozad missing with a left hand there. Leonard was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cozad is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Cozad tries to bum rush Leonard with a series of wild strikes but Leonard uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Leonard keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cozad.
Cozad throws out a loose jab but Leonard uses good head movement to avoid it.
Leonard tries to clinch there but Cozad circles away.
Cozad shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Leonard sprawls well. Leonard wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cozad gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Leonard. No joy for Cozad on that attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A combination from Cozad does no damage.
Leonard moves away from the strike by Cozad.
A bone on bone clash there as Cozad blocks the leg kick.
Leonard displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cozad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Connor Cozad. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonard lands with a shot to the body.
Leonard is looking to clinch but Cozad is avoiding it.
Leonard lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Leonard fails with an attempt to clinch.
Leonard attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Cozad has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Leonard.
Cozad ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Leonard moves away.
Leonard jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A cross from Cozad lands.
Cozad swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cozad misses the shot to the body.
Cozad swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonard throws a chopping leg kick but Cozad manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Leonard showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cozad.
Leonard thows a left - swing and a miss!
Leonard tries to score with a low kick but Cozad moves his leg out of the way.
Cozad throws a body punch but Leonard moves out of range.
Cozad keeps the fight on the outside.
Cozad misses with a two punch combination.
Leonard bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cozad. Leonard does a little dance to reset his feet.
Leonard scores with a jab to the head.
Cozad throws a hook to the side of Leonard's head but Leonard sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Cozad throws a hook but Leonard blocks it.
Connor Cozad has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cozad misses with the combination.

Leonard rushes Cozad and presses him up against the cage.
Leonard misses with a knee strike.
Leonard tries to land a knee to the head but Cozad blocks with his arms.
Leonard with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Cozad taking a breather.
Cozad has Leonard pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Leonard manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Cozad fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Cozad.

Cozad breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cozad takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Cozad throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Good shot there by Leonard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonard keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cozad.
Cozad lands a nice hook to Leonard's body. Leonard takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
A big left from Cozad misses.
Cozad jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Leonard lands a nice shot to the body.
Cozad checks a low kick from Leonard.
Jill Leonard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Leonard misses the shot to the body.
Cozad misses the jab.
Leonard swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cozad misses with a few strikes there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Leonard shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Cozad bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Leonard feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Cozad's calf.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jill Leonard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Leonard winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jill Leonard!