PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rhys Frazier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ruban Kozlov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Frazier
vs
Kozlov

180 cm
23
160 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

179 cm
26
147 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rhys Frazier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ruban Kozlov!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Eddie Farnsworth and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kozlov walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Nice straight punches there by Frazier. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Frazier.
Frazier throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Frazier throws a right hand that misses
and Kozlov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Frazier lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Frazier has Kozlov up against the cage in a clinch.
Frazier leaning his opponent against the cage.
Frazier lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Kozlov breaks the clinch.
Frazier throws a solid leg kick but Kozlov takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Frazier.
Kozlov looks to clinch
and Kozlov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kozlov throws an off balance right hand
and Frazier counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kozlov thinking.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Frazier slips a straight right by Kozlov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kozlov throws a jab but it's blocked by Frazier.
A little feinted left hand from Frazier on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Kozlov throws a body shot but no joy.
Frazier with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Frazier has Kozlov up against the cage in a clinch.
Knees to the body from Frazier.

Frazier breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice jab there from Frazier.
Frazier scores with a decent looking hook.
Frazier thumps Kozlov with a low kick.
Kozlov throws a big shot that misses.
Kozlov throws a hook but Frazier blocks it.
Kozlov looks to land a left hand but Frazier moved out of range nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Kozlov misses.
Kozlov throws the left hand but Frazier avoids the punch easily.
Frazier scores with a crisp jab that stopped Kozlov in his tracks.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Frazier sizes up Kozlov with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Kozlov just misses with a punch to the body.
Kozlov takes a swing at Frazier's ribcage but misses.
A jab from Frazier does it's job there.

Kozlov is rocked!
Frazier keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kozlov.
Good exchange - Kozlov coming out on top.
Frazier misses with a head kick.
Kozlov has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Frazier finds it's way round the side to connect with Kozlov's head.
Kozlov is still on wobbly legs! Can Frazier finish him?
Frazier tries to score with a low kick but Kozlov moves his leg out of the way.
Kozlov seems to have recovered his senses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Frazier uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kozlov.
Frazier throws a jab but it's blocked by Kozlov.
Kozlov takes one to the chin there.
Frazier lands a jab to the nose.
Kozlov scores with the left hand. Frazier knows he should have avoided that one.
Kozlov has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Frazier finds it's way round the side to connect with Kozlov's head.
Nice defenses there by Frazier.
Frazier is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Kozlov.
Frazier just misses with a punch to the body.

Kozlov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kozlov prevents Frazier from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Frazier actively working from the bottom here.
Frazier is pressing down on Kozlov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Kozlov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Kozlov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kozlov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Frazier tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Frazier escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kozlov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kozlov is pushing down on Frazier's leg trying to pass to half guard. Frazier is fighting to maintain full guard but Kozlov has managed to sneak the leg through.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rhys Frazier dominated that round.
That's time! Frazier's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Frazier throws out a loose jab but Kozlov uses good head movement to avoid it.
A little jabbing left from Kozlov on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Frazier ducks under a wild hook from Kozlov.
Frazier getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Frazier throws a looping overhand right but Kozlov ducks down to avoid it.
Kozlov misses with an uppercut. Frazier saw that one coming.
Kozlov throws a lazy right hand but Frazier sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Frazier fails with an attempt to clinch.

Frazier clinches with his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Frazier lands with a light punch inside.
Frazier throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kozlovs head.
Kozlov misses with the head strike.
Frazier is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kozlov can do to turn this around?
Kozlov is pushing Frazier up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Kozlov lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kozlov misses with a punch on the inside.
Kozlov lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Frazier backwards.
A hook to the body from Frazier.

Frazier gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Kozlov regains guard.
Kozlov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Kozlov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kozlov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Kozlov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kozlov working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Frazier controlling the position for now.

Kozlov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Frazier defends it well.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Kozlov working his ground and pound in the gym.
Kozlov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Kozlov working Frazier over with strikes.
Frazier is refusing to be controlled, as Kozlov sits in half guard.
Frazier avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kozlov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Frazier looking for submissions off his back.
Kozlov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Kozlov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Frazier with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Kozlov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kozlov trying to control the action but Frazier is working from the bottom.
Kozlov prevents Frazier from improving his position.
Kozlov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kozlov slows the pace down in half guard.
Frazier wants to get back to full guard.

Frazier looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Frazier is trying is best to control the position here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Frazier wants to get back to full guard but Kozlov has mounted him!
Kozlov with shots to the head and body - Frazier looks very uncomfortable down there.
Frazier sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruban Kozlov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Frazier ducks under a wild hook from Kozlov.
Kozlov throws a lazy right hand but Frazier sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Frazier pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Frazier throws a big shot that misses.
Kozlov takes a swing at Frazier's ribcage but misses.
Kozlov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kozlov clobbers Frazier with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Kozlov scores with a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Frazier throws a lazy uppercut
and Kozlov counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Frazier keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kozlov.
Kozlov throws a lazy right hand but Frazier sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Frazier shoots for a double leg takedown but Kozlov sprawls well. He's pushed Frazier's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kozlov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Frazier bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
The fighters circling - Kozlov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kozlov misses with a series of wild punches.
Good shot there by Kozlov.
Frazier lands a nice hook to Kozlov's body. Kozlov takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Kozlov loads up on a big right hand but Frazier slips the punch.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Kozlov.
Kozlov throws a hook to the side of Frazier's head but Frazier sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Frazier throws a solid leg kick but Kozlov takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Frazier.
Kozlov blocks a jab.

Frazier drives through and clinches with Kozlov against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kozlov.
Kozlov lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Frazier backwards.
Frazier working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A short uppercut from Frazier.
Rhys Frazier has scored more points in the clinch so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Frazier pushes Kozlov back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Frazier lands a left hand.
Kozlov managing to block the knees to the body from Frazier.
Kozlov tries to work over Frazier's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Frazier lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Kozlov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rhys Frazier is winning the standup battle so far.
Kozlov takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Rhys Frazier seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Frazier swings for the body but Kozlov moves out of range.
Kozlov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Frazier pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kozlov with a jab.
Frazier throws a leg kick which misses Kozlov's front leg but catches the back leg as Kozlov tries to avoid it.
Kozlov might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Frazier jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Good exchange - Kozlov coming out on top.
Frazier throws a looping overhand right but Kozlov ducks down to avoid it.
Frazier connects with a crisp jab.
Kozlov shoots and misses
and Frazier counters with a straight right hand.
Nice defenses there by Kozlov.
Kozlov throws out a counter right but Frazier avoids it with no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Frazier doesn't manage to clinch there - Kozlov circles away.
Frazier misses with a looping right.
Frazier shoots in looking for a takedown but Kozlov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Frazier's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kozlov swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Kozlov lands a nice shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kozlov jabs Frazier right on the nose. Frazier blinks but takes it well.
Frazier tries to clinch up but Kozlov circles away and keeps his distance.
It seemed like Kozlov was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Frazier clinches up against the cage.
Frazier working aggressively here.

Frazier breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kozlov. Frazier does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kozlov throws a poor cross that misses
and Kozlov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kozlov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Frazier.
It seemed like Kozlov was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

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 Rhys Frazier.
I think Frazier 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rhys Frazier!
During a confident post fight interview, Rhys Frazier thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.