PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dre Madness (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Kozlov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ivan Kozlov is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Madness
vs
Kozlov

181 cm
21
212 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
210 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight 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, Dre Madness!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Kozlov!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Sergei Dronov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kozlov closes the distance and clinches.
Kozlov will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Madness up against the cage.

Madness works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Kozlov working a defensive guard here.
Madness wants to pass the guard but Kozlov is keeping the position.
Kozlov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Madness. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Madness loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kozlov wants to stand up but Madness is controlling him.
Madness is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Madness trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kozlov keeping moving, preventing Madness from controlling successfully.
Madness missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kozlov keeping moving, preventing Madness from controlling successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Kozlov darts in and clinches Madness up against the cage.
Madness drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Kozlov drags the fight down to the ground.
Kozlov looking for a sweep. Not yet Kozlov, not yet.
Kozlov looking to control.
Kozlov being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Madness seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Kozlov for as long as he can get away with.

Dre Madness has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Kozlov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Madness swivels and escapes.
Madness shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kozlov as he avoids it easily.
Kozlov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Madness.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dre Madness. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Madness shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kozlov but Kozlov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Madness shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kozlov but Kozlov pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Madness shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Kozlov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Kozlov prevents Madness from improving his position.
Madness wants to control but Kozlov is keeping busy.
Madness is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kozlov is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Kozlov wants to pass the guard but Madness is defending well.
Kozlov is thwarting Madness's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Dre Madness.
Kozlov lands a nice leg kick that just misses Madness's sensitive parts.

Kozlov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Madness goes for a takedown attempt but Kozlov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Kozlov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Madness is fending him off so far but Kozlov persists. Nope, Madness circles away and we're back to standing.
Kozlov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kozlov misses with a takedown attempt - Madness sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kozlov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Madness sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kozlov somewhat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ivan Kozlov will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Madness.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kozlov can't do much from the bottom here.
Madness controlling the position from side mount.
Madness is looking to take a break and control but Kozlov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Madness tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Madness trying to control the action but Kozlov is working from the bottom.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Madness throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Madness trying to control the position but Kozlov is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kozlov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Madness wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Madness landing strikes.
Madness is looking to take a break and control but Kozlov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kozlov trying his best to control but Madness has mounted him.
Dre Madness overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Madness trying to control but Kozlov is having none of it.
Kozlov wants to hold on but Madness pushes him away.
Madness wants to control the pace but Kozlov is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kozlov is looking to improve his position but Madness isn't that keen on the idea.
Madness unloads with some shots from mount but Kozlov bucks and avoids them well.
Madness prevents Kozlov from getting the reversal.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Madness cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Kozlov wants to control but Madness is having none of it.
Madness wants to control the pace but Kozlov is squirming around nicely.
Madness landing strikes from the mount and Kozlov is in trouble!

Madness is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Kozlov can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Madness looking to finish Kozlov with some ground and pound. This is bad for Kozlov!
Madness can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kozlov is looking to escape.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kozlov can do anything to dispel that myth.

Madness is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Kozlov to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Kozlov shrugs it off.
Madness tries to control but Kozlov wriggling away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Madness controlling from mount.
Kozlov is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dre Madness dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Madness is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kozlov sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kozlov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Madness swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Kozlov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kozlov is pressed up against the cage. Madness has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kozlov down to the mat. Kozlov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kozlov dives in and grabs Madness's left leg, looking for a takedown. Madness pushes down on Kozlov's head and hops out.
Madness shoots in for a takedown but Kozlov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dre Madness. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kozlov shoots in for a double leg but Madness sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Madness fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Kozlov!
Madness tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kozlov swivels and escapes.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kozlov ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Kozlov no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kozlov wants to control the position but Madness says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Madness wants to take a breather but Kozlov is having none of it.
Kozlov manages to get to full guard.
Madness trying to control but Kozlov is working from the bottom.
Madness postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Madness postures up in Kozlov's guard and throws a big left but Kozlov blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kozlov controls Madness momentarily but Madness frees himself.
Kozlov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kozlov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Kozlov has his foot on Madness's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Madness works his way back into a safe position though.
Madness tries to free his leg and advance position but Kozlov is retaining full guard.
Kozlov keeping moving, preventing Madness from controlling successfully.
Kozlov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kozlov keeping full guard, as Madness tries to pass.
Madness controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Kozlov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Madness content to stall in guard here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Dre Madness.
Kozlov throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Kozlov closes the distance and clinches.

Madness turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
You can see the frustration on Kozlov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Madness has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Kozlov!
Madness controlling the position easily from mount.
Kozlov is looking to get to half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Madness controlling his opponent.

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 Dre Madness.
I think Madness 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dre Madness!