PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Connor Cozad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dmitry Nagiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nagiev has chosen Dmitry Nagiev - All I Promised as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cozad
vs
Nagiev

173 cm
26
158 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

177 cm
27
165 lbs
19 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
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 15 - 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 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Dmitry Nagiev!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Richard Clark and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nagiev connects with a right hand. Cozad shakes it off.
Nagiev connects with a single shot there.
Nagiev with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Cozad moves away from the strike by Nagiev.
Cozad with a lazy takedown attempt

and Nagiev counters by clinching up.
Nagiev is trying to break the clinch but Cozad is controlling him.
Nagiev is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Nagiev working hard to break the clinch.

Nagiev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Cozad fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Nagiev to the ground. Cozad is now in Nagiev's guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Nagiev wants to stand and escape but Cozad is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Cozad gets to his feet - Nagiev follows without any prompting.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cozad lands with a hook. Nagiev tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cozad ducks under a wild hook from Nagiev.
Nagiev fails to land with a series of punches.
Cozad is looking to clinch.
Nagiev lands the left hand.
Cozad tries to clinch there but Nagiev circles away.
Nagiev circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nagiev fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Cozad looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nagiev tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Cozad manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cozad throws a right hand that Nagiev ducks under and follows up with a left that Nagiev also avoids with ease.
Nagiev tries to close the distance and clinch but Cozad swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cozad tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nagiev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nagiev just misses with a punch to the body.
Cozad dives in and grabs Nagiev's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nagiev pushes down on Cozad's head and hops out.
Nagiev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nagiev misses with a hook

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nagiev is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Cozad asserts his dominance and retains side control.

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

Cozad wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Nagiev, who protects the arm well.
Cozad trying to control the position but Nagiev is working away.
Nagiev is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Cozad is controlling him well.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Cozad wants to control but Nagiev is keeping him busy.
Nagiev is trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cozad is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Nagiev is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Nagiev 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.
The strikes coming from Cozad are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

Cozad is trying to get an arm triangle but Nagiev is defending well.

Cozad working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Cozad working the head with strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cozad is looking to take a break and control but Nagiev is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Cozad tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Cozad has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor Cozad dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Cozad fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cozad thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Nagiev if he has to take too many more of those.

Cozad moves into the clinch successfully.

Nagiev breaks the clinch.
Nagiev swats away the attempt to clinch by Cozad.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cozad tries to clinch up but Nagiev circles away and keeps his distance.
Cozad tries to close the distance and clinch but Nagiev swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cozad has a takedown stuffed.
Cozad tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cozad throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Nagiev misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cozad.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nagiev lands with an overhand left.
Cozad thows a body shot but no joy.
Nagiev scores with a nice head shot.
Nagiev misses with a body shot.
Nagiev will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Cozad fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Nagiev, pushing him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nagiev is trying to force a seperation but Cozad has the dominant position.
Cozad tries to score a body lock takedown but Nagiev shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Cozad is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Nagiev to keep 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 pulls guard.

Nagiev gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Dmitry Nagiev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nagiev stuffs the takedown.

Nagiev gets tackled into the cage by Cozad. Cozad maintains the clinch.
Nagiev is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Cozad keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nagiev's efforts to push away.

Nagiev breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cozad takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Nagiev misses.
A combination from Nagiev does no damage.
Nagiev closes the distance and lands a one-two.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cozad fails with a takedown attempt.
Cozad tries to clinch but Nagiev moves away
and Nagiev counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nagiev scores with the left hand. Cozad knows he should have avoided that one.
Cozad tries to clinch up but Nagiev circles away and keeps his distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dmitry Nagiev will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nagiev tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Cozad is able to avoid easily.
Nagiev stuffs the takedown attempt from Cozad. Cozad gets slowly back to his feet.
Cozad fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cozad tries to close the distance and clinch but Nagiev swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cozad throws a leg kick
and Nagiev counters with a stiff right hand.
Cozad tries to clinch but Nagiev moves away
and Nagiev counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Nagiev scores with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nagiev rushes Cozad and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Nagiev breaks from the clinch.
Nagiev misses with a body shot.
Nagiev uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Cozad closes the distance looking to clinch
and Nagiev makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good shot there by Nagiev.
Nagiev misses with an uppercut.
Cozad misses with a wild combination.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nagiev looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nagiev swinging wildly here.
Nagiev wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nagiev throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cozad.
Cozad wants to clinch
and Nagiev counters with a nice uppercut.
Nagiev throws a right hand that Cozad ducks under and follows up with a left that Cozad also avoids with ease.

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.
Good standup being displayed there by Nagiev as he connects with a hook.
Cozad takes one on the chin but seems OK.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cozad looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cozad doesn't manage to clinch there - Nagiev circles away.

Cozad rushes Nagiev and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Nagiev wants to get back to striking at distance but Cozad won't allow it.
Nagiev wants to break free but Cozad has control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dmitry Nagiev really dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cozad moves into the clinch.
Nagiev wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nagiev wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Cozad is trying to pull guard but Nagiev turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Nagiev wants to break free but Cozad has control.
Cozad is looking for a takedown.
Cozad has Nagiev pressed against the cage, preventing Nagiev from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Nagiev tries to break the clinch but Cozad is controlling the position.
Cozad prevents Nagiev from breaking the clinch.
Nagiev wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nagiev has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cozad is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Nagiev to keep 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.

Nagiev breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nagiev tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cozad swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nagiev stuffs the takedown.

Cozad darts in and clinches Nagiev up against the cage.
Cozad drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Nagiev gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Nagiev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nagiev slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Cozad tries to clinch but Nagiev is having none of it.
Nagiev tries to clinch but Cozad moves away

and Cozad counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cozad stops Nagiev from getting back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Cozad wants to work for an arm triangle but Nagiev is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Nagiev is trying to stand up here but Cozad is controlling him well.
Nagiev is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Cozad lands strikes from half guard.
Nagiev tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Cozad manages to move to mount!

Cozad stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Cozad tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nagiev ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cozad moves away.
Nagiev uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cozad.

Cozad clinches up against the cage.

Nagiev manages to break the clinch.
Cozad staying out of range there.
Cozad feints and then cracks Nagiev's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Nagiev down.
Cozad swings away with a leg kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nagiev swinging wildly here.
Cozad throws a low kick but it's checked well by Nagiev.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cozad is defended easily by Nagiev.
Cozad tries to land a front kick but Nagiev steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor Cozad had his way with Dmitry Nagiev in that round.
That's time! Cozad's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Cozad shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Nagiev defends it nicely.
Cozad with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Nagiev to score with a decent uppercut.

Nagiev closes the distance and pushes Cozad back into the cage.
Nagiev leaning against his opponent.

Nagiev breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cozad takes a swing at Nagiev's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cozad dives in and grabs Nagiev's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nagiev pushes down on Cozad's head and hops out.
Nagiev fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cozad fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Nagiev connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Cozad momentarily.
Nagiev connects with a solid leg kick.
Nagiev misses with a straight left.
A left lands for Nagiev.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cozad fails to land with a series of punches.
Cozad throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cozad cracks the inside of Nagiev's front leg.
Cozad is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nagiev swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nagiev takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cozad is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nagiev sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Connor Cozad. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nagiev misses with a lunging right hand
and Cozad counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Cozad has Nagiev up against the cage in a clinch.
Cozad lands a nice uppercut.

Nagiev's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cozad tries to clinch up.
Cozad tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Nagiev manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Nagiev misses its intended target.
Cozad closes the distance but Nagiev moves to the side
enabling Nagiev to counter with a crisp jab.
A jab from Nagiev misses.
A head kick misses from Cozad.
Nagiev connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
A big left from Nagiev misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Dmitry Nagiev.
I think Nagiev has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight for Connor Cozad!
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight for Connor Cozad!
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Connor Cozad!

Connor Cozad wins by unanimous decision!
Connor Cozad retains his lightweight title!
An out of breath and clearly excited Connor Cozad thanked Bloodsport Nutrition for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).