PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Johnie Cash (ranked 6902 p4p, 344 weight class) and Ruban Kozlov (ranked 4112 p4p, 207 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Cash
vs
Kozlov

165 cm
32
143 lbs
18 - 11 - 0

179 cm
30
147 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johnie Cash!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ruban Kozlov!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Aafke Stam and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kozlov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cash.
A cross from Kozlov lands.
Cash throws a right hand that Kozlov ducks under and follows up with a left that Kozlov also avoids with ease.
Kozlov swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Cash misses with a right hand
and Kozlov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A big left from Kozlov misses.
Kozlov misses with a looping right.
Kozlov slips a straight right by Cash.
Kozlov with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Cash ducks under a wild hook from Kozlov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kozlov lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kozlov. Cash does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kozlov scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kozlov is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Kozlov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kozlov lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Kozlov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cash.
Cash tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Kozlov manages to circle out of the way.
Cash throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Cash misses with a lunging right hand
and Kozlov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Kozlov has closed the distance and engaged Cash in a clinch.
Cash goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kozlov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cash struggles to land a body shot inside as Kozlov controls his hands.
Cash wants to stall.
A right hook to the body lands for Kozlov.
Cash working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Kozlov tries to throw a body punch but Cash avoids it by throwing Kozlov back against the cage.
Kozlov scores with a shot to the side of Cash's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cash tries to stall but Kozlov uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Kozlov's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Kozlov is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Kozlov misses with some punches.
Kozlov has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Cash seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Kozlov can turn it around.
A shot in the inside from Kozlov.
Nice body punch from Cash - that landed with a thud.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cash stalling.
Cash is working Kozlov over against the cage.
Cash tries to work over Kozlov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cash misses with a punch to the body.
Kozlov lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Cash blocks an uppercut.
Kozlov is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Cash is pushing Kozlov up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cash lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Cash misses with some punches.
Kozlov wants a takedown.
A short right from Cash on the inside.
Kozlov blocks a body shot from Cash.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kozlov digs a right hand into Cash's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Cash's gas tank.
Cash misses with a body punch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Kozlov is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Cash tries to work over Kozlov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kozlov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kozlov misses with some punches.
Kozlov makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kozlov tries a body shot but Cash blocks it.
Cash blocks an uppercut.
Cash trying to control the position but instead, Kozlov has worked for underhooks and has pushed Cash into the cage.
Kozlov misses with some punches.
Cash tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Cash makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kozlov creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Cash looking to stall.
Cash throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Cash misses with a hook from the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cash doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cash blocks an uppercut.
Cash fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruban Kozlov dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cash will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kozlov works the jab nicely.
Kozlov has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Kozlov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kozlov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cash. Kozlov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kozlov looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Cash throws a left and a right that both miss
letting Kozlov counter with a right hand.
Ruban Kozlov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cash throws a right hand that misses
and Kozlov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cash misses with a right hand
and Kozlov counters with a straight right hand.
A slow jab from Cash misses its intended target.
Kozlov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Kozlov instigates a clinch.
Ruban Kozlov seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Cash.
Cash lands a body shot.
Kozlov lands a body shot.
A right hand to the body from Kozlov.
Cash misses with a hook to the ribs.
Cash throws a punch but it's blocked by Kozlov.
Kozlov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Cash fails to land.
Cash blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right from Kozlov on the inside.
Cash misses with a punch to the body.
Kozlov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cash lands a hook that snaps the head of Kozlov backwards.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kozlov working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cash.
Cash tries to work over Kozlov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Still in the clinch, Kozlov scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kozlov wants to stall.
Kozlov scores with a shot to the side of Cash's head.
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!
Cash stalling in the clinch.
Kozlov is trying to maintain a safe position but Cash gets an underhook and turns Kozlov into the cage.
Kozlov scores with a shoulder strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cash.
Kozlov takes a shot to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Cash creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Cash throws a punch but it's blocked by Kozlov.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cash.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kozlov.
Cash is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kozlov digs a right hand underneath Cash's ribcage. Cash let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Cash tries to throw a body punch but Kozlov avoids it by throwing Cash back against the cage.
Cash is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Kozlov's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Kozlov lands a left hand.
Kozlov misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cash swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cash prevents a body shot from Kozlov.
Kozlov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cash's elbow.
Good body shot from Cash.
Cash doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cash content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Cash tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cash tries to throw a body punch but Kozlov avoids it by throwing Cash back against the cage.
Cash working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kozlov lands an uppercut.
Kozlov misses with a body punch.
Cash lands a body shot in the clinch.
Cash fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Kozlov.
Cash can't find room to land a body shot as Kozlov controls the action.
Kozlov misses with a punch on the inside.
Cash just leaning against Kozlov, taking a breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cash blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cash misses with a punch on the inside.
Cash scores with a shoulder strike.
Cash tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kozlov's elbow.
Cash misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cash working aggressively here.
Cash swings wildly with an uppercut but Kozlov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cash goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cash's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Cash looking to slow down the pace here.
A right hand to the body from Cash.
Cash tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cash.
Kozlov working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Cash stalling in the clinch but Kozlov improves position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ruban Kozlov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Cash uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kozlov.
Kozlov jabs Cash right on the nose. Cash blinks but takes it well.
Kozlov tests Cash's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Cash is rocked!
Cash has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kozlov finds it's way round the side to connect with Cash's head.
Oh Cash is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Cash has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kozlov finds it's way round the side to connect with Cash's head.
Cash misses the body punch
and Kozlov scores with a counter punch that sends Cash to the canvas! Kozlov smells blood - he's punishing Cash with more strikes and the ref has stopped it! Cash has no idea where he is - he's tackled the ref... oh dear, poor guy, the crowd is in hysterics!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:29 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ruban Kozlov!
Ruban Kozlov decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.