PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mariano Abel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ruban Kozlov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Abel
vs
Kozlov

175 cm
19
140 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

179 cm
21
147 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Can Moonwalk

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mariano Abel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ruban Kozlov!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Jonathan Paton and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Abel fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kozlov.
Kozlov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
It looked like Abel was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Abel.
Kozlov throws a right hand that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Abel connects with an inside leg kick.
Abel lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kozlov takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Abel throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Abel throws a head kick but Kozlov moves out of range.
Kozlov throws a right hand that Abel ducks under and follows up with a left that Abel also avoids with ease.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Kozlov has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Kozlov just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kozlov throws a body punch but Abel moves out of range.
Kozlov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Abel.
It looked like Abel was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Kozlov.
Kozlov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kozlov throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Abel stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kozlov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Abel to counter with a crisp jab.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Abel.
Abel scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A head kick by Abel misses
enabling Kozlov to counter with a crisp jab.
Kozlov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Abel.
Abel jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Kozlov looks to land a left hand but Abel moved out of range nicely.
Abel throws a counter high kick but Kozlov was just alert enough to avoid it.
We've been told by Abel's head coaches at Team Alfalfa Meal that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kozlov. Abel does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kozlov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Abel counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Kozlov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Abel connects with a right hand. Kozlov shakes it off.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Abel misses with a head kick.
Kozlov is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Abel rather than just go for the knockout.
Kozlov throws an overhand right that lands on Abel's shoulder, as Abel tries to avoid the shot.
Abel jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Abel throws a sloppy head kick and Kozlov moves out of range easily.
Abel buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kozlov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kozlov throws a hook but Abel avoids it easily.
Kozlov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Abel.
Abel dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kozlov. That did some damage!
Abel ducks under a wild hook from Kozlov.
Kozlov's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Abel lands a head kick!
Abel throws a combination. Kozlov tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Abel moves out of range as Kozlov strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abel staying out of range there.
Abel fires out a quick counter leg kick but Kozlov just manages to avoid it.
Abel throws a nice head kick!
Kozlov throws a series of punches but Abel avoids them all with ease.
Abel seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Abel moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Abel scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Abel scoring well with a low kick there.
Abel throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Kozlov takes a kick to the side of the head.

Kozlov is rocked!
Abel connects with the punch.
Kozlov is still on wobbly legs! Can Abel finish him?
A low kick from Abel misses
and Kozlov counters with a stiff right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mariano Abel dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Abel throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Kozlov seems to have recovered his senses.
Abel uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kozlov.
Abel lands with a thumping leg kick.
Abel lands with a good body shot.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Kozlov might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Abel has got the better of the exchanges.
Abel scores with a leg kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Kozlov blocks the leg kick.
Abel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kozlov misses with a straight right.
Abel misses with a body shot.
Kozlov misses with a lunging right hand
and Abel counters with an inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abel throws a quick inside leg kick.
Kozlov misses with a hook.
Abel will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Abel is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kozlov can do to turn this around?
Kozlov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
The fighters circling - Kozlov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kozlov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Abel goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
The fighters circling - Kozlov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kozlov takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kozlov.
Kozlov avoids the body shot from Abel.
Kozlov scores with a jab. Abel acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Abel connects with a solid leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Abel.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Abel scoring well with a low kick there.
Mariano Abel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kozlov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Abel sprawls well. Abel wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kozlov gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kozlov misses the jab.
Kozlov throws a looping overhand right but Abel ducks down to avoid it.
Abel scores with a head kick.
Kozlov lands a really nice looking cross but Abel seems unphased.
Kozlov takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A chopping leg kick lands by Abel.
Abel lands a nice shot that snaps Kozlov's head back.
A punch combination from Kozlov misses.

Kozlov manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Abel on his heels. He'll look to pass Abel's guard now, I'm sure.
Kozlov is standing up over Abel. Abel looks to escape but Kozlov dives into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kozlov in side control, throwing shots but Abel defends.
This has been an exciting period of action!
An elbow from Kozlov crashes against the mat.
Kozlov working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Abel dodges the ground and pound from Kozlov.
Kozlov slows the pace down.
Kozlov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kozlov trying to control the position but Abel is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mariano Abel dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

A lazy left from Kozlov finds it's target.
Abel is looking to score with low kicks.
Kozlov takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Abel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kozlov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Abel sees it coming and avoids it easily.
It looked like Abel was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Kozlov has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Abel fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

Kozlov scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Kozlov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kozlov throwing shots but Abel is blocking nicely.
Kozlov throws a strike but Abel avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Kozlov content to stall in guard here.
Abel knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kozlov on the ground.
Kozlov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Abel has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Kozlov off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Kozlov throws a body punch but Abel moves out of range.
Kozlov takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abel misses with a wild combination.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kozlov! But no joy.
Kozlov looks for a takedown but Abel sprawls well.
Kozlov dives in for a single leg takedown but Abel sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kozlov lands with a nice body punch.
Kozlov throws a hook but Abel avoids it easily.
Abel drops his hands momentarily and Kozlov takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Abel fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kozlov checks it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kozlov misses with a takedown attempt - Abel sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mariano Abel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ruban Kozlov.
Kozlov takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Abel lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Abel scores with a nice body kick.
Kozlov misses with a right hand
and Abel counters with a body kick.
Kozlov takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kozlov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kozlov lands in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kozlov throws a big elbow that misses.
Kozlov throws a big right hand that misses.
Kozlov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mariano Abel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Abel, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mariano Abel!
Mariano Abel seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.