PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marco Ruas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladdy Kozlov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Ruas might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Megadeth - Symphony of Destruction. Kozlov has chosen Era - Ameno as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ruas
vs
Kozlov

195 cm
19
205 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

195 cm
23
212 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Bushido Clothing
Hell's Balls Fightwear

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 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Marco Ruas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vladdy Kozlov!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Fedor Mirinova and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ruas gets a takedown into half guard.
Kozlov gets back to full guard.
Ruas stopping the sweep attempt from Kozlov.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ruas accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ruas tries to free his leg and advance position but Kozlov is retaining full guard.
Ruas advances to half guard.
Ruas sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kozlov defending well though.
Ruas trying to advance position but Kozlov counters by regaining guard.
Ruas throws a strike but Kozlov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ruas looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruas wants to sweep here but Kozlov controlling him for the moment.
Kozlov stands up over Ruas, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Kozlov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ruas looking for a sweep. Not yet Ruas, not yet.
Kozlov wants to control from the top but Ruas keeps moving.
Kozlov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Ruas working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kozlov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kozlov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ruas throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's two 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.

Ruas has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kozlov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kozlov won't allow Ruas to sweep him here.

Ruas looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Kozlov passes into side control.
Kozlov lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Ruas down.
Kozlov is working Ruas over with some ground and pound from side control.
Ruas tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kozlov creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kozlov lands a few punches from side control.
Kozlov scores with a couple of short elbows.
Kozlov is working Ruas over with some ground and pound from side control.
Kozlov has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Ruas is wriggling around trying to escape.
Ruas flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Ruas regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruas wants to get back to full guard but Kozlov has mounted him!
Ruas is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Ruas manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Ruas is pressing down on Kozlov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Ruas working for a triangle but Kozlov defends it easily.
Kozlov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Ruas dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ruas misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kozlov misses the shot to the body.
Kozlov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ruas looks to score with a jab to the body but Kozlov is just out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kozlov is looking to clinch but Ruas is avoiding it.
Ruas closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kozlov circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kozlov is looking to clinch.
Kozlov finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Ruas looks to score with a jab to the body but Kozlov is just out of range.
Kozlov is looking to clinch but Ruas is avoiding it.
Marco Ruas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ruas takes a swing at Kozlov's ribcage but misses.
Kozlov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ruas looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kozlov is fending him off so far but Ruas persists. Nope, Kozlov circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marco Ruas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ruas changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kozlov tries to avoid it but Ruas manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kozlov to the ground. Kozlov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ruas lands an overhand right.
Kozlov has a takedown stuffed.
Ruas fails to land with a series of punches.
Kozlov looks for a takedown but Ruas sprawls well.
Kozlov bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Ruas misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kozlov throws a looping overhand right but Ruas ducks down to avoid it.
Kozlov shoots in but Ruas avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ruas slips a jab from Kozlov.
Ruas takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Kozlov wants to clinch up but Ruas keeps it at a distance.
No joy there for Ruas, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ruas tries to bum rush Kozlov with a series of wild strikes but Kozlov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

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.
Kozlov displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Ruas is rocked!

Kozlov has closed the distance and engaged Ruas in a clinch.
Kozlov digs a right hand underneath Ruas's ribcage. Ruas let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Kozlov blocks the elbow strike.
Kozlov is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A left hand lands to the body for Kozlov.
Ruas fails to pull guard.
Ruas looking to throw knees to the head but Kozlov is blocking nicely.
Kozlov goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ruas prevents it.
Kozlov is breathing heavily.
Kozlov blocks an elbow strike.

Ruas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kozlov tries for a takedown but Ruas sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ruas closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kozlov circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladdy Kozlov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ruas jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

It looks like Vladdy Kozlov has been cut.
Ruas throws a combination. Kozlov tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Ruas keeps the fight on the outside.
Kozlov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ruas.
Kozlov looks to land a left hand but Ruas moved out of range nicely.
Ruas shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kozlov but Kozlov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ruas shoots in for a double leg but Kozlov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruas throws a jab when Kozlov was well out of range.
Ruas looks to land a combination but Kozlov avoids it well.
Vladdy Kozlov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Horrible takedown by Kozlov or perhaps it was just good defense by Ruas which made him look bad.
Good standup being displayed there by Kozlov as he connects with a hook.
Ruas moves out of range of the strikes.
Kozlov throws a right hand that Ruas ducks under and follows up with a left that Ruas also avoids with ease.
Kozlov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ruas misses with a looping right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kozlov dodges the punch combination from Ruas.
Ruas cracks Kozlov with a right hand to the side of the head.
Nice takedown defense from Ruas. No joy for Kozlov on that attempt.
Ruas misses with a body shot.
Kozlov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ruas.
Ruas tries for a takedown but Kozlov circles away easily
and Kozlov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marco Ruas. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruas staying out of range there.
Kozlov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ruas tries a head kick but it misses.
Kozlov misses with a takedown attempt - Ruas sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Ruas gets the takedown into side control.

Ruas tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ruas has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ruas 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 throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.

Ruas tries for a kimura but Kozlov is defending well.
Ruas working the ground and pound but Kozlov is defending the strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marco Ruas showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ruas 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marco Ruas!