PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Connor Cozad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nate Sorenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cozad
vs
Sorenson

173 cm
26
158 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

175 cm
27
169 lbs
19 - 13 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Fossington & Blythe: Gentlemen's Fight Attire
Bloodsport Nutrition

Fossington & Blythe: Gentlemen's Fight Attire

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Connor Cozad!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Nate Sorenson!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Sam Margolis and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cozad is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cozad is looking to clinch but Sorenson is avoiding it.
Cozad throws a front kick aimed at Sorenson's knee but Sorenson avoids it well.
Cozad moves to clinch but Sorenson breaks away
and Sorenson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Sorenson drives through and clinches with Cozad against the cage.
Sorenson misses with a knee to the head.
Sorenson throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Cozad avoids a wild elbow strike from Sorenson.
Sorenson taking a breather.

Sorenson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cozad takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Sorenson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cozad.
Cozad tries to clinch but Sorenson is having none of it.
Cozad tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Sorenson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nate Sorenson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sorenson doesn't manage to clinch there - Cozad circles away.

Sorenson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Sorenson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cozad wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cozad wants to clinch.
A leg kick checked by Sorenson.
Sorenson lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Cozad checks a leg kick.

Cozad moves into range and clinches up with Sorenson.
Sorenson working hard to break the clinch.
Cozad has Sorenson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sorenson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Sorenson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cozad scores with a jab. Sorenson acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Sorenson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cozad is looking to clinch.
Sorenson throws a nice inside leg kick.
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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cozad fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sorenson throws a solid leg kick but Cozad takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Sorenson.
Sorenson fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Cozad checks it well.
Sorenson pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Cozad back to the cage. Sorenson follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Cozad looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

Cozad moves into the clinch successfully.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sorenson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Sorenson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nate Sorenson dominated that 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.

Sorenson keeps the fight on the outside.
Cozad is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cozad tries for a takedown but Sorenson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sorenson tried to score with a low kick but Cozad checks it.
Cozad swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cozad fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cozad on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sorenson checks the leg kick nicely there.

Sorenson closes the distance and pushes Cozad back into the cage.
Cozad drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sorenson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Cozad keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sorenson's efforts to push away.
Cozad has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sorenson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Connor Cozad. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cozad has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Sorenson after a bit of a struggle.
Sorenson is trying to push Cozad away but Cozad has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Sorenson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Sorenson misses with a knee strike.
Sorenson tries to stall but Cozad uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sorenson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Sorenson tries to break free but Cozad pushes him back against the cage.
Sorenson wants to break free but Cozad has control.
Cozad has Sorenson pressed against the cage, preventing Sorenson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Sorenson can't break the clinch.
Cozad tries to pull guard but Sorenson won't allow it.
Sorenson is looking to break free of the clinch but Cozad has double underhooks.
Cozad is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Sorenson is defending well.
Sorenson is trying to force a seperation but Cozad has the dominant position.
Sorenson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Cozad has Sorenson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sorenson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Cozad jumps guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sorenson prevents Cozad from getting back to his feet.
Sorenson stands and throws Cozad's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Cozad is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sorenson has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Cozad closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Cozad tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sorenson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cozad tries to pull guard but Sorenson holds him up against the cage and eventually Cozad drops back down to his feet.
Sorenson is trying to force a seperation but Cozad has the dominant position.
Sorenson is trying to push Cozad away but Cozad has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Cozad is working for takedown but Sorenson is calmly controlling the position for now.

Cozad lands a takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sorenson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cozad gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sorenson wants to control but Cozad passes easily into half guard.

Cozad is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sorenson pushes Cozad off looking to stand but Cozad dives back in and keeps control.
Sorenson gets back to full guard.
Sorenson can't keep his opponent in guard - Cozad advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sorenson looks like he's trying to stand up.

Cozad is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sorenson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cozad.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Nate Sorenson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cozad tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Sorenson counters with a low kick, right behind Cozad 's knee.
Sorenson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cozad swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sorenson throws a front kick aimed at Cozad's knee but Cozad avoids it well.
Sorenson throws a shot from downtown. Cozad moves away and avoids it.

Cozad fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sorenson sprawls well initially but Cozad persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Cozad seems to be looking for submissions.
Sorenson is looking to escape.
Sorenson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Cozad is pushing down on Sorenson's leg trying to pass to half guard. Sorenson is fighting to maintain full guard but Cozad has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cozad is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sorenson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cozad.
Cozad wants to take a breather but Sorenson is having none of it.
Sorenson wants to get back to his feet.
Cozad is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Sorenson squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Sorenson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sorenson in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Cozad breaks from Sorenson's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Cozad looking to control but Sorenson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cozad looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Cozad get's back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sorenson swats away the attempt to clinch by Cozad.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Sorenson lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Cozad has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Cozad and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

Cozad has taken the fight to the clinch.
Cozad has Sorenson pressed against the cage, preventing Sorenson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cozad wants a takedown.
Cozad goes for a takedown attempt but Sorenson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Cozad instigates a clinch.
Cozad has Sorenson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sorenson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
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 a light punch inside.
Sorenson is looking to break free of the clinch but Cozad has double underhooks.
Cozad keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sorenson's efforts to push away.
Come on Sorenson - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sorenson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cozad tries to bum rush Sorenson with a series of wild strikes but Sorenson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cozad misses with a low kick.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

Cozad pushes Sorenson up against the cage in a clinch.
Nate Sorenson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Sorenson has had enough of the clinch but Cozad keeps him there for the moment.
Sorenson prevents the takedown attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sorenson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cozad has him pressed against the cage.
Sorenson is trying to push Cozad away but Cozad has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Sorenson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cozad.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor Cozad clearly takes that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sorenson closes the distance and clinches.
Sorenson wants to break free but Cozad has control.
Cozad changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sorenson fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Cozad misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sorenson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cozad.
Cozad gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Sorenson counters with a good low kick that Cozad was not able to check.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cozad fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sorenson stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Connor Cozad. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head kick misses from Sorenson.
Cozad tries to clinch but Sorenson is having none of it.
Sorenson lands with a thumping leg kick.

Cozad dives in and scores a takedown into Sorenson's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sorenson looking for a guillotine here but Cozad defends easily.
Cozad looking to sit in guard and control but Sorenson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Sorenson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Cozad has his foot on Sorenson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sorenson works his way back into a safe position though.
Sorenson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Sorenson wants to control from the top but Cozad keeps moving.

Cozad had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sorenson defends it easily.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Sorenson looking to pass the guard.
Connor Cozad overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sorenson postures up in Cozad's guard and throws a big left but Cozad blocks it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cozad throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Cozad is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cozad manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Cozad shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Sorenson is trying to stand.
Sorenson is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

Sorenson manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Cozad cracks Sorenson with a good jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sorenson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cozad circles away quickly and effectively.
Cozad goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Cozad throws a head kick that misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sorenson looks to score with a jab to the body but Cozad is just out of range.
Cozad tries to clinch up but Sorenson circles away and keeps his distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cozad misses with a few strikes there.

Cozad scores with a takedown into Sorenson's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor Cozad had his way with Nate Sorenson in that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Cozad tries to clinch but Sorenson moves away
and Sorenson counters with a stiff right hand.
Cozad swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cozad walks into a jab.
A combination from Sorenson does no damage.
Sorenson connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Sorenson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sorenson throws a shot from downtown. Cozad moves away and avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sorenson darts in trying to clinch
and Cozad counters with a leg kick.
Sorenson is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Cozad tries to clinch there but Sorenson circles away.
A punch lands to the side of Cozad 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Cozad throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sorenson fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cozad thows a body kick. Sorenson tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Connor Cozad is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sorenson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cozad swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Some bone on bone action there as Cozad checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Sorenson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cozad swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice jab there from Cozad.
Cozad doesn't manage to clinch there - Sorenson circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cozad fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cozad shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sorenson sprawls well. Sorenson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cozad gets slowly back to his feet.
Cozad tries to clinch there but Sorenson circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cozad has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
The crowd cheers as Cozad lands an impressive looking overhand right. Sorenson doesn't seem phased though.
Sorenson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sorenson scores with a jab to the head.
Cozad tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Cozad shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Cozad showed some decent athleticism there.

Sorenson kicks off Cozad and gets to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Connor Cozad.
I think Cozad 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight for Connor Cozad!
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight for Connor Cozad!
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight for Connor Cozad!

Connor Cozad wins by unanimous decision!
Connor Cozad retains his lightweight title!
Connor Cozad made sure to mention his sponsor, Bloodsport Nutrition in his post fight interview.