PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vitor Cunha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Cozard Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cozard Jr has chosen Kid Rock - Born Free as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cunha
vs
Cozard Jr

176 cm
26
189 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

186 cm
24
198 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vitor Cunha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ryan Cozard Jr!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Alexandre Firmino and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cozard Jr bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Cunha prevents Cozard Jr from moving into mount.
Cunha is looking to reverse the position.
Cozard Jr throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Cunha is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Cozard Jr has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Cozard Jr working away.
Cozard Jr works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Cunha on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Cozard Jr scoring with punches from side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cozard Jr tries to score with some ground and pound. Cunha controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Cozard Jr is trying to ground and pound but Cunha uses the momentary lack of control by Cozard Jr to regain half guard.
Cunha blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cozard Jr.
Cozard Jr thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cunha's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cozard Jr wants to take a breather but Cunha is having none of it.
Cozard Jr not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cozard Jr thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Cozard Jr is taking a breather. Cunha says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Cozard Jr not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cozard Jr wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cunha keeps working.
Cozard Jr has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cunha keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Cozard Jr landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Cunha is not content to let Cozard Jr control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cozard Jr keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Cozard Jr winds up and cracks Cunha with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Cunha is looking to improve his position.
Cozard Jr lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cozard Jr winds up and cracks Cunha with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Cunha tries to get to full guard but Cozard Jr has control of the leg.
Cunha is looking to escape.
Cozard Jr passes to side control.
Cozard Jr works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cunha is being controlled here.
Cunha can't do much from the bottom here.
Cunha takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Cunha tries to escape but Cozard Jr is in control.
Cunha gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Cozard Jr fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Cozard Jr can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Cunha is looking to escape.
Cunha keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cozard Jr content just to control the position here.
Cunha wants to hold on but Cozard Jr pushes him away.
Cozard Jr lands with some strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cozard Jr working the ground and pound effectively.
Cozard Jr working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Cunha is rocked!
Cozard Jr lands a big elbow - Cunha is in trouble! More strikes from the mount and Cunha is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Ryan Cozard Jr!