PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Giorgi Kozolashvili (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and JJ Lean (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.

Kozolashvili
vs
Lean

181 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Giorgi Kozolashvili!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, JJ Lean!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, David Hoff and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kozolashvili darts in looking for a takedown but Lean gets double underhooks and turns Kozolashvili into the cage.
Lean tries a knee to the head but Kozolashvili blocks it.
Lean landing knees to the head.
Lean misses with a knee to the head.
Lean goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kozolashvili prevents it.
Kozolashvili is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Lean jumps guard but Kozolashvili stands there with Lean around his waist. Lean gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Kozolashvili.
Kozolashvili is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Kozolashvili takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kozolashvili taking a breather.
Lean tries a knee to the head but Kozolashvili blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Lean.

Kozolashvili jumps into guard, dragging Lean to the mat.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Lean trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lean makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Lean looking to sit in guard and control but Kozolashvili gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Kozolashvili stopping the sweep attempt from Lean.
Kozolashvili is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Lean 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kozolashvili tries to free his leg and advance position but Lean is retaining full guard.
Kozolashvili throwing strikes from guard but Lean blocks nicely.
Kozolashvili trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kozolashvili is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Giorgi Kozolashvili has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Kozolashvili throws out a leg kick but Lean moves out of range and Kozolashvili only half commits.
Kozolashvili stalks Lean and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Lean's face. Lean staggers backwards, shaken.

It looks like JJ Lean has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lean wants to clinch
and Kozolashvili counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Lean tries to clinch up but Kozolashvili circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lean moves to clinch but Kozolashvili breaks away
enabling Kozolashvili to counter with a crisp jab.
Kozolashvili pulls out of a head kick attempt.
JJ Lean seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lean wants to clinch
and Kozolashvili counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Lean tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Kozolashvili counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Kozolashvili decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Lean tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kozolashvili paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Lean clinches up against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lean is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kozolashvili is keeping busy.

Kozolashvili's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Kozolashvili clinches with his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kozolashvili tries to circle away but Lean has him pinned against the cage.
Kozolashvili lands an uppercut.
Lean connects with a knee to the head.

Kozolashvili ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Kozolashvili no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Kozolashvili pushes Lean off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Lean is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lean looks to clinch
and Kozolashvili counters with a stiff right hand.

Lean moves into range and clinches up with Kozolashvili.
Kozolashvili is stalling here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lean with a knee to the head.
Lean looking to throw knees to the head but Kozolashvili is blocking nicely.
Lean looks winded!
Lean with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giorgi Kozolashvili dominated that round.
The cut man is working on JJ Lean's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kozolashvili pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kozolashvili keeps the fight on the outside.

Lean darts in and clinches Kozolashvili up against the cage.
Kozolashvili is looking for a takedown.
Kozolashvili tries to pull guard but Lean forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Kozolashvili is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Lean pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Giorgi Kozolashvili. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kozolashvili is trying to drag Lean to the mat but Lean just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Lean is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Lean.
Lean tries to land a knee to the head but Kozolashvili blocks with his arms.
Lean wants to take the fight to the mat but Kozolashvili manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Lean as Kozolashvili tries to tie him up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kozolashvili looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lean tries a knee to the head but Kozolashvili blocks it.
Lean lands a nice knee to the body.
Lean scores with a knee to the head.
Lean tries to land a knee to the head but Kozolashvili blocks with his arms.
Lean is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Lean landing knees to the head.
Lean on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kozolashvili tries to pull guard but Lean forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lean tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Lean with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kozolashvili wants a takedown.
Kozolashvili prevents the takedown attempt.
JJ Lean seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Kozolashvili is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Kozolashvili is trying to push Lean away but Lean has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Knees to the body from Lean.
Kozolashvili is trying to drag Lean to the mat but Lean just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Kozolashvili takes a knee to the side of the body.
Lean fails to pull guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kozolashvili is working for takedown but Lean is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kozolashvili tries to stall but Lean uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Lean landing knees to the head.

Kozolashvili pulls guard effortlessly.

Kozolashvili looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Lean stops Kozolashvili from standing up.
Lean trying to stand up but can't free himself from Kozolashvili's guard.
Kozolashvili is adopting a defensive guard.
Kozolashvili might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kozolashvili bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lean's guard.
Lean is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kozolashvili preventing the sweep.
Kozolashvili is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Giorgi Kozolashvili just wasn't active enough.
Lean moves in looking to clinch but Kozolashvili pushes him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JJ Lean showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on JJ Lean's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Lean. No joy for Kozolashvili on that attempt.
Lean tries to clinch up.
Lean darts in trying to clinch

and Kozolashvili counters by clinching up.
Lean is struggling to control the position.
Lean landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Lean is looking for a takedown.
Lean connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kozolashvili's face.

Kozolashvili drags the fight down to the ground.

Kozolashvili has his foot on Lean's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lean works his way back into a safe position though.
Lean must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kozolashvili keeping moving, preventing Lean from controlling successfully.
Lean takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kozolashvili has his hands on Lean's head, controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kozolashvili scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Kozolashvili is trying hard to land a takedown here. Lean sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Lean tries to clinch but Kozolashvili moves away
and Kozolashvili counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kozolashvili is defended easily by Lean.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Giorgi Kozolashvili. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lean wants to clinch.

Lean fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kozolashvili, pushing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lean tries to pull guard but Kozolashvili forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Lean using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Kozolashvili is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Lean can't get the takedown.
Lean throws a knee to the head but misses.
Lean landing knees to the head.
Kozolashvili is looking to take this one to the mat.
Kozolashvili tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Lean with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Lean misses with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kozolashvili is pressed up against the cage. Lean has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kozolashvili down to the mat. Kozolashvili avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kozolashvili throws a head kick that misses.
Kozolashvili shoots in but no luck this time.

Lean gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kozolashvili prevents the takedown attempt.
Kozolashvili changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Lean fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Lean is looking to clinch.
Lean tries to clinch but Kozolashvili moves away
and Kozolashvili counters with a left to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kozolashvili tries to pull guard but Lean holds him up against the cage and eventually Kozolashvili drops back down to his feet.
Lean throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kozolashvili is trying to stall.
Lean keeps control of Kozolashvili as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Lean prevents a takedown attempt there.
Lean scores with a knee to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lean lands a nice knee to the body.
Lean goes for a takedown attempt but Kozolashvili pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Kozolashvili dives in for a single leg takedown but Lean sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
JJ Lean comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lean has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... JJ Lean!
The defeated Giorgi Kozolashvili had this to say: 'it was great fight,thank you'.