PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alexei Billcozby (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josip Zubak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Billcozby
vs
Zubak

225 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexei Billcozby!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Josip Zubak!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Illya Tyunina and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Zubak. No joy for Billcozby on that attempt.
Billcozby tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Zubak swivels and escapes.
Billcozby closes this distance looking for a takedown but Zubak circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexei Billcozby. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Billcozby misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Billcozby tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Billcozby misses with a wild body shot.
Billcozby fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Billcozby lands with a kick to the temple. Zubak shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

It looks like Josip Zubak has been cut.
Zubak checks the leg kick.
Billcozby throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zubak's waist but Zubak gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Billcozby off to one side.
Billcozby shoots in for a takedown but Zubak shows good takedown defense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Billcozby misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Alexei Billcozby seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Billcozby shoots in but Zubak avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Billcozby misses with a takedown attempt - Zubak sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Billcozby doesn't manage to clinch there - Zubak circles away.
Billcozby shoots in looking for a takedown. Zubak tries to sprawl out of it but Billcozby keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Zubak manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Billcozby looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zubak is fending him off so far but Billcozby persists. Nope, Zubak circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Zubak closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Billcozby really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Zubak looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Zubak throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Zubak lands strikes from half guard.
Zubak is tying to control. Billcozby wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Zubak 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.
Billcozby is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Zubak scores with a couple of nice shots.
Billcozby knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Zubak on the ground.
Billcozby looks like he's trying to stand up.
Zubak takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zubak throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Zubak trying to control the action but Billcozby is working from the bottom.
Zubak lands with a punch from half guard.
Zubak has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zubak missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Zubak is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Billcozby wants to get back to his feet.
Billcozby blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zubak.
Billcozby is trying to maintain the position but Zubak is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Zubak circles away from the clinch attempt.
Billcozby gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Zubak counters with a takedown into side control.
Zubak in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Billcozby is trying to control Zubak's posture but Zubak avoids it.
Zubak looks up at the clock and then as Billcozby takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Zubak smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Zubak throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Billcozby is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josip Zubak dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Josip Zubak's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Billcozby gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Zubak counters with a single leg into guard. Billcozby didn't expect that.
Zubak throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Billcozby works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Billcozby keeping moving, preventing Zubak from controlling successfully.
Billcozby is trying to control the position but Zubak postures up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zubak accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Zubak missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Billcozby controlling Zubak's posture.
Zubak postures up in Billcozby's guard and throws a big left but Billcozby blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zubak content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Zubak looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Zubak slips a nice elbow through Billcozby's hands, connecting with Billcozby's forehead.
Billcozby is trying to stand.
Billcozby is trying to get back to full guard.

Billcozby looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zubak missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Zubak looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zubak not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Zubak throwing shots but Billcozby is blocking nicely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Billcozby doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Zubak counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Billcozby's guard now.
Zubak wants to control from the top but Billcozby keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zubak makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Billcozby preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Zubak stops Billcozby from standing up.
Billcozby looking for a sweep. Not yet Billcozby, not yet.
Zubak postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Billcozby keeping moving, preventing Zubak from controlling successfully.
Billcozby is pulling down on Zubak's head. It's preventing any offense from Zubak, at least for the moment.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Billcozby misses with a takedown attempt

and Zubak counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexei Billcozby. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zubak is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Zubak is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Billcozby blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zubak.
Billcozby avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zubak.
Josip Zubak has got the better of the ground game so far.
Billcozby wants to get back to full guard.
Zubak thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zubak trying to mount his opponent but Billcozby defends it.
Billcozby is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Horrible takedown by Zubak or perhaps it was just good defense by Billcozby which made him look bad.
Billcozby with a lazy takedown attempt

and Zubak counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Zubak.
Billcozby looking to control.
Zubak trying to control but Billcozby is working from the bottom.
Zubak in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josip Zubak showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Josip Zubak's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Billcozby tries to clinch but Zubak moves away

and Zubak counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Billcozby!
Billcozby is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Zubak cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Zubak working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Billcozby in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Zubak lands a big elbow.
Zubak working the ground and pound effectively.
Billcozby takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Billcozby is working to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Billcozby is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Zubak takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Billcozby can't escape the position.
Zubak is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Billcozby can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Billcozby is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Zubak lands a big shot there that rocks Billcozby but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Zubak is landing with some decent strikes but Billcozby is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Billcozby tries to lock up and control but Zubak gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Billcozby takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Billcozby takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Zubak working the ground and pound effectively.
Zubak lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Billcozby hang on?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Billcozby is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Billcozby wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Zubak.
Zubak with shots to the head and body - Billcozby looks very uncomfortable down there.
Billcozby wants to control but Zubak is having none of it.
Zubak with shots to the head and body - Billcozby looks very uncomfortable down there.
Zubak looking to finish Billcozby with some ground and pound. This is bad for Billcozby!
Billcozby is trying desperately to improve position.
Billcozby wants to hold on but Zubak pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zubak lands a heavy elbow.
Billcozby throwing hammer fists to the chest of Zubak. What's that going to do exactly?
Billcozby wants to control but Zubak is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zubak with a couple of short strikes.
Zubak working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Billcozby is looking to get to half guard.
Billcozby in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Zubak landing punches.
Zubak connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Zubak misses with a head shot.
Billcozby avoids a series of strikes thrown by Zubak.
Zubak avoids the attempt from Billcozby to control.
Zubak is landing with some decent strikes but Billcozby is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Zubak with the ground and pound from mount.
Zubak lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

Billcozby is rocked!
Zubak lands a big shot to the head and Billcozby winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Josip Zubak!