PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Magomed Kozmas (ranked 5793 p4p, 5023 weight class) and Dan Morgan (ranked 598 p4p, 556 weight class). Morgan is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Wellerman (Sea Shanty). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Kozmas
vs
Morgan

178 cm
26
163
1 - 4 - 0

193 cm
25
180
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Magomed Kozmas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dan Morgan!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Sergei Dronov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kozmas shoots in but Morgan avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Morgan walks into a straight right hand from Kozmas.
Kozmas throws a chopping leg kick but Morgan manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Morgan shoots in for a double leg but Kozmas sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Kozmas moves into the clinch successfully.
Morgan prevents the takedown attempt.

Kozmas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Morgan slips a straight right by Kozmas.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morgan has his takedown stuffed
and Kozmas counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Morgan closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Morgan lands in his opponent's guard.
Kozmas looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Kozmas is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Kozmas goes for a takedown attempt but Morgan pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Magomed Kozmas. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Morgan shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Morgan seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Morgan is thwarting Kozmas's attempts to control the position.
Morgan performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Kozmas manages to get to full guard.
Kozmas looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Morgan decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Morgan shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kozmas counters with a nice uppercut.
Nice straight punches there by Kozmas. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Kozmas.

Kozmas closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Kozmas gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kozmas wants to control from the top but Morgan keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Morgan has Kozmas pulled in close to control his posture.
Kozmas might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kozmas missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kozmas looking to sit in guard and control but Morgan gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Morgan preventing the sweep.
Morgan trying to control the position from guard on top but Kozmas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Morgan forces his way into half guard.

Morgan is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kozmas doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Morgan.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kozmas displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Morgan.
Morgan uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kozmas.
Dan Morgan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kozmas misses with a looping left.
Morgan misses with a series of wild punches.
Kozmas loads up on a big right hand but Morgan slips the punch.

Kozmas closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Morgan stops a takedown attempt from Kozmas.
Kozmas is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Morgan can do to turn this around?
The referee calls for Kozmas to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head punch on the inside from Kozmas fails to land.
Kozmas is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan prevents the takedown attempt.
Morgan goes for a takedown attempt but Kozmas pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Kozmas uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Morgan has time to react.
Morgan takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Kozmas gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Morgan to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Morgan stopping the sweep attempt from Kozmas.
Dan Morgan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kozmas is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kozmas is trying to hold Morgan in close to prevent damage but Morgan has managed to pass into half guard.

Morgan decides to stand and escape the position.

Morgan drives through with a takedown into Kozmas's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
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!
Kozmas is looking to stand up but Morgan isn't so interested in that idea.
Morgan trying to control the position from guard on top but Kozmas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kozmas is pulling down on Morgan's head to control his posture.
Kozmas is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morgan won't allow Kozmas to get back to his feet.
Kozmas is trying to keep Morgan in close.

Kozmas had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Morgan defends it easily.
Morgan throws a big elbow that misses.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Morgan shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kozmas as he jumps to the side.
Magomed Kozmas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Morgan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Morgan staying out of range there.

Kozmas shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Morgan is looking to escape.

Kozmas is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Morgan trying to control from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kozmas 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.
Morgan moves into full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Magomed Kozmas will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Kozmas changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Morgan tries to avoid it but Kozmas manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Morgan to the ground. Morgan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Kozmas manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Morgan on his heels. He'll look to pass Morgan's guard now, I'm sure.
Morgan keeping full guard, as Kozmas tries to pass.
Kozmas looking to sit in guard and control but Morgan gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Kozmas here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Morgan lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Morgan is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morgan throws a big right hand that misses.
Morgan stands up over Kozmas, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Morgan stands up and waves to Kozmas to follow him.
Kozmas misses with a looping left.
Kozmas tries to bum rush Morgan with a series of wild strikes but Morgan uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kozmas displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Morgan.
Kozmas is looking to counter the offense by Morgan and move into the clinch.
Morgan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kozmas swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kozmas connects with a crisp jab.
Morgan dives in for a single leg takedown but Kozmas sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Morgan is looking to clinch.
Morgan slips under a jab from Kozmas.
Good exchange - Kozmas coming out on top.

Kozmas drives through with a takedown into guard.

Morgan is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan 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.
Kozmas loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kozmas scoring with punches to the head and body.

Morgan looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Kozmas passes into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kozmas trying to control the action but Morgan is working from the bottom.
Morgan is trying to work for a sweep but Kozmas has mounted him!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kozmas working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Morgan is desperately trying to improve his position but Kozmas has a good base and remains in mount.
Kozmas postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Morgan looks a forlorn figure.
Kozmas prevents Morgan from getting the reversal.
Kozmas landing punches.
Kozmas working Morgan over with strikes here.
Kozmas controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kozmas lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Morgan tries to lock up and control but Kozmas gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kozmas landing shots from mount.
Kozmas putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Dan Morgan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kozmas landing strikes from the mount and Morgan is in trouble!
Kozmas looking to finish Morgan with some ground and pound. This is bad for Morgan!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kozmas working the ground and pound effectively.
Morgan tries to get back to half guard but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Magomed Kozmas showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kozmas has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Magomed Kozmas!
Our winner, Magomed Kozmas, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
Dan Morgan was interviewed post fight and said 'I'll be back and better than ever'.