PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Andrei Kozlov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josef Dellal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Andrei Kozlov has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Kozlov
vs
Dellal

190 cm
24
192 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

177 cm
23
192 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Good knees
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

[CBK] LEGAL HIGHS - AJFC ↑ DOUBLE 160Q *

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Andrei Kozlov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Josef Dellal!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Steve Erwin and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dellal closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Dellal is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kozlov has managed to free his arm - good work.

Kozlov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Dellal is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Dellal is keen to just control but Kozlov is a slippery customer.
Kozlov is looking to control Dellal's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kozlov avoid being mounted?

Kozlov looking for a kimura from the bottom but Dellal passes into side control!
Dellal tries to move to mount but Kozlov blocks the move with his legs.
Kozlov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dellal tries for a kimura but Kozlov is defending well.

Dellal is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kozlov has escaped the position, nice work there.

Dellal is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kozlov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Dellal working the head with strikes.
Dellal working away.
Kozlov looking for a sweep but Dellal has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Dellal looking to control but Kozlov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kozlov regains half guard.

Kozlov looking for submissions off his back.

Dellal is looking for a kimura here.
Kozlov is refusing to be controlled, as Dellal sits in half guard.
Dellal moves nicely into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dellal is chipping away with strikes.
Dellal wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kozlov keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kozlov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Dellal wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Dellal is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kozlov has escaped the position, nice work there.

Dellal looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Dellal tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Dellal thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Kozlov manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Kozlov wants to control but Dellal is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dellal is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kozlov defends it well.

Dellal wants to work for an arm triangle but Kozlov is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Kozlov tries to get to full guard but Dellal has control of the leg.

Dellal is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kozlov doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Dellal.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Dellal is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kozlov doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Dellal.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Dellal is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josef Dellal dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kozlov scores with a head kick.

It looks like Josef Dellal has been cut.

Dellal shoots in and gets a takedown into Kozlov's guard.
Dellal in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Kozlov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kozlov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Josef Dellal has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kozlov 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.
Dellal trying to control the position from guard on top but Kozlov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dellal works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Dellal is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kozlov is just riding it out for now. Dellal eventually gives up the hold.

Dellal is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kozlov sees it coming and defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kozlov actively working from the bottom here.

Dellal is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Dellal landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Kozlov looking for submissions off his back.
Kozlov is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Dellal's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Dellal's back!

Kozlov is persistently looking for the submission but Dellal is defending it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dellal breaks Kozlov's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Dellal slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Dellal working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Dellal landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
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!

Dellal is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kozlov is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Kozlov manages to get back to half guard.
Kozlov regains full guard. Nicely done.

Dellal got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kozlov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Dellal has managed to get both his arms back between Kozlov's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dellal looking to pass the guard.
Dellal trying to control the position from guard on top but Kozlov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dellal advances to half guard.
Kozlov trying to control but Dellal postures up.

Dellal is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Kozlov wants to control but Dellal is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Dellal is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kozlov has managed to free his arm - good work.
Kozlov is trying to maintain the position but Dellal is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kozlov looking for submissions off his back.

Kozlov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Dellal is working for a kimura but Kozlov is defending it quite comfortably.

Dellal seems to be working for a kimura but Kozlov defends the submission attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dellal moves into full mount! Kozlov won't be happy about that!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Josef Dellal will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Josef Dellal's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Dellal shoots in for a double leg but Kozlov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
No luck for Dellal with that takedown attempt.
Dellal shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kozlov sprawls well. Kozlov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Dellal gets slowly back to his feet.
Andrei Kozlov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josef Dellal.
Dellal throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kozlov's waist but Kozlov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Dellal off to one side.
Dellal swats away the attempt to clinch by Kozlov.
Kozlov tries to clinch but Dellal is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kozlov looks to clinch

and Dellal counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Kozlov!

Dellal is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Kozlov is surviving well by controlling Dellal's body position as best he can.
Dellal landing shots from mount.
Kozlov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Dellal prevents Kozlov from getting the reversal.
Kozlov tries to hold on but Dellal postures up.
Kozlov is in all sorts of trouble here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Dellal is controlling this nicely and is looking to make no mistakes. Kozlov is trying to wiggle out of this horrible position. Kozlov flips to his side and attempts to get a leg in for half guard. Dellal anticipates the leg and manages to get behind Kozlov and secures both hooks! This could be bad! Dellal slips an arm under Kozlov chin and tries to position for a rear naked choke. Dellal has worked the choke in now and it looks tight. Dellal is squeezing on Kozlov like an anaconda would it's prey. Kozlov fails to tap and has fallen unconscious! We've got ourselves a winner by way of a rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Josef Dellal!
After winning the bout, Josef Dellal thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.