PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bayani De Guzman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew Cozad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cozad has chosen Daft Punk - Hard Better Faster Stronger as his entrance music. Matthew Cozad has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Bayani De Guzman's chin.

De Guzman
vs
Cozad

180 cm
23
175 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

178 cm
24
180 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bayani De Guzman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matthew Cozad!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
De Guzman keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
De Guzman lands a glancing blow to the side of Cozad's head.
Good work by Cozad as he checks the leg kick.
Cozad looks to score with a jab to the body but De Guzman is just out of range.
De Guzman connects with a body shot that sends Cozad's belly button to the back.
Cozad gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and De Guzman counters with an inside leg kick.
De Guzman has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Cozad finds it's way round the side to connect with De Guzman's head.
De Guzman lands with an overhand left.
Cozad closes the distance and clinches up with De Guzman, looking for a takedown. Cozad pushes De Guzman against the cage but De Guzman circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
De Guzman swings and misses with a hook to the body.
De Guzman lands with a right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cozad closes this distance looking for a takedown but De Guzman circles away.
Bayani De Guzman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matthew Cozad.
De Guzman misses with a two punch combination.
Cozad digs a good body shot into De Guzman's ribs.
Cozad connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Cozad takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cozad ducks down and throws a hook to the body but De Guzman moves away.
A big left from Cozad misses.
Nice sprawl there from De Guzman as Cozad shoots in.
De Guzman scores with the left hand. Cozad knows he should have avoided that one.
Cozad shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says De Guzman as he avoids it easily.
Cozad jabbing away but nothing is landing.
De Guzman throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Cozad on the side of the head.
Matthew Cozad seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cozad. De Guzman does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cozad shoots for a double leg takedown but De Guzman sprawls well. He's pushed Cozad's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
De Guzman feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Cozad's calf.
De Guzman lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cozad circles away quickly and effectively.
De Guzman throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cozad's waist but Cozad gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing De Guzman off to one side.
De Guzman throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

De Guzman closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
De Guzman lands a hook that snaps the head of Cozad backwards.
De Guzman doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cozad has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by De Guzman after a bit of a struggle.
De Guzman misses with a hook from the clinch.
De Guzman tries to throw a body punch but Cozad avoids it by throwing De Guzman back against the cage.
De Guzman lands a left hand.
De Guzman stalls.
Cozad avoiding damage as De Guzman throws knees to the body.
De Guzman misses with a body punch.
De Guzman tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cozad wants a takedown.
De Guzman missing with knees to the body.

Cozad lands a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

De Guzman pushes Cozad off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

De Guzman gets in close and instigates a clinch.
De Guzman cracks Cozad with a nice body shot.
Stalling in the clinch from De Guzman.
De Guzman lands a left hand.
Cozad prevents a body shot from De Guzman.
Cozad has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by De Guzman after a bit of a struggle.
De Guzman tries to work over Cozad's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
De Guzman tries to work over Cozad's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cozad is looking for a takedown.
Cozad is looking to take this one to the mat.
De Guzman missing with knees to the body.
De Guzman lands a knee to the body.
Cozad blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Guzman looking to throw knees to the head but Cozad is blocking nicely.
De Guzman misses with a punch to the body.
De Guzman working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
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!
De Guzman digs a right hand into Cozad's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Cozad's gas tank.
De Guzman is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Cozad looks gassed!
De Guzman misses with a body punch.
De Guzman lands with a left to the head.
De Guzman has a couple of punches blocked by Cozad.
De Guzman tries to land a knee to the head but Cozad blocks with his arms.
De Guzman lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A short right from De Guzman.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
De Guzman stalls.
Cozad on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bayani De Guzman dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cozad looks to land a left hand but De Guzman moved out of range nicely.
De Guzman misses with an attempted mid kick.
De Guzman tries to score with a low kick but Cozad moves his leg out of the way.
De Guzman just misses with a punch to the body.
A jab lands there for Cozad.
Cozad looks to score with a jab to the body but De Guzman is just out of range.
Cozad looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? De Guzman is fending him off so far but Cozad persists. Nope, De Guzman circles away and we're back to standing.
De Guzman thows a body shot but no joy.
Cozad bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of De Guzman's head.
Cozad throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cozad throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cozad keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
De Guzman throws a hook to the side of Cozad's head but Cozad sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Cozad misses with a wild combination.
Cozad takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's one minute gone in the round.

De Guzman gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Cozad to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Cozad postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Cozad postures up in De Guzman's guard and throws a big left but De Guzman blocks it.
De Guzman utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cozad throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
De Guzman wants to stand and escape but Cozad is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cozad is pushing down on De Guzman's leg trying to pass to half guard. De Guzman is fighting to maintain full guard but Cozad has managed to sneak the leg through.
De Guzman is trying to stand.
Cozad trying to control the action but De Guzman is working from the bottom.
Cozad looks to land a strike but De Guzman avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Cozad trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cozad throwing strikes from guard but De Guzman blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
De Guzman preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cozad pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. De Guzman is keeping the position for now.
Cozad has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cozad wants to control from the top but De Guzman keeps moving.
De Guzman utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cozad trying to control but De Guzman is working from the bottom.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Cozad with a nice head shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Guzman working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cozad.
Cozad trying to control but De Guzman is working from the bottom.
Cozad tries to free his leg and advance position but De Guzman is retaining full guard.
De Guzman wants to get back to his feet but Cozad is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cozad is looking to work some ground and pound but De Guzman has wrist control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
De Guzman avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Cozad 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. This is the final round!

De Guzman throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A jab from Cozad misses.
De Guzman avoids the body shot from Cozad.
Cozad throws a body punch but De Guzman moves out of range.
De Guzman misses with an uppercut. Cozad saw that one coming.
De Guzman slips a straight right by Cozad.
Cozad misses with a body shot
and De Guzman counters with a slapping leg kick.
Cozad looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Cozad shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A telegraphed right hand from Cozad misses the target.
De Guzman looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
De Guzman uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cozad.
De Guzman with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Cozad swings for the body but De Guzman moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Guzman scores with a nice strike.
No luck for Cozad with that takedown attempt.
De Guzman defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cozad.
Bayani De Guzman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matthew Cozad.
Cozad takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
De Guzman ducks under a wild hook from Cozad.
Cozad slips under a jab.
Cozad misses with a jab to the body

and De Guzman counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Cozad 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.
De Guzman wants to get up but he can't break Cozad's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Bayani De Guzman.
De Guzman lands a body shot.
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!
De Guzman misses with an uppercut.
Cozad throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cozad jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cozad throws a lazy right hand but De Guzman sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cozad moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

De Guzman rushes Cozad and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
De Guzman throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Cozads head.
Cozad wants a takedown.
De Guzman tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cozad avoids it.
Cozad wants to take the fight to the mat but De Guzman manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cozad wants a takedown.
Cozad stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
De Guzman lands a body shot in the clinch.
De Guzman lands a body punch in the clinch.
Cozad blocks the elbow strike.
De Guzman lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Cozad backwards.
De Guzman comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Bayani De Guzman has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Cozad wants to take the fight to the mat but De Guzman manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
De Guzman lands with a short head shot on the inside.
De Guzman throws an elbow but it's blocked.
De Guzman works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A short body shot lands from De Guzman as the two fighters clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as De Guzman takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
De Guzman softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Guzman can't find room to land a body shot as Cozad controls the action.
De Guzman tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cozad's elbow.
Cozad takes a shot to the head.
De Guzman controlling the action here for a moment.
De Guzman fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
De Guzman works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A right hand to the body from De Guzman.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, De Guzman creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Cozad gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Cozad prevents De Guzman from standing back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bayani De Guzman showed his dominance in that final round.
I think De Guzman 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bayani De Guzman!
Bayani De Guzman gave a mention to Empire Threads - The Best $15 You've Ever Spent! in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).