PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Khabib Nurmagomedov (ranked 3454 p4p, 352 weight class) and Takeru Ishii (ranked 22840 p4p, 487 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nurmagomedov
vs
Ishii

179 cm
21
155 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

170 cm
28
127 lbs
11 - 9 - 2

Solid boxing
Good chin

Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

UnderGround Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Khabib Nurmagomedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Takeru Ishii!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yuuki Gou and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nurmagomedov takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Ishii lands a nice shot to the body.
Ishii will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nurmagomedov was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Ishii on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Ishii has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Nurmagomedov finds it's way round the side to connect with Ishii's head.
Ishii thows a left - swing and a miss!
A slow jab from Ishii misses its intended target.
Ishii looks to land a right hand but Nurmagomedov moved out of range.
Ishii loads up on a big right hand but Nurmagomedov slips the punch.
Nurmagomedov cracks Ishii with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Ishii wants to clinch
and Nurmagomedov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nurmagomedov throws a looping overhand right but Ishii ducks down to avoid it.
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!
A nice inside leg kick there by Ishii. That's going to slow Nurmagomedov down.
Nurmagomedov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A countering left hand to the body from Ishii misses.
Ishii throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Some wild striking there from Ishii.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ishii doesn't manage to clinch there - Nurmagomedov circles away.
Nurmagomedov swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Ishii.
Ishii's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Ishii duly obliges.
Ishii moves out of range as Nurmagomedov strikes.
Ishii tries to clinch but Nurmagomedov moves out of range.
A right-left combo lands from Nurmagomedov.
A jab from Nurmagomedov misses.
Ishii uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Ishii ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nurmagomedov misses with a straight right.
Nurmagomedov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ishii.
Ishii misses with a hook. Nurmagomedov ducked under it nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nurmagomedov lands a really nice looking cross but Ishii seems unphased.
Nurmagomedov takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Donk. Ishii catches Nurmagomedov right on the button with a cross.
Nurmagomedov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nurmagomedov throws a series of strikes that have Ishii backpedaling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov cracks a nice hook into Ishii's ribs.
Ishii ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Ishii fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Nurmagomedov looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Ishii is looking to slow Nurmagomedov down with leg kicks.
Nurmagomedov blocks a low kick nicely.
Ishii tries to clinch there but Nurmagomedov circles away.
Nurmagomedov looks to land a right hand but Ishii moved out of range.
Nurmagomedov throws a right and a left that Ishii avoids nicely.
Ishii tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Nurmagomedov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nurmagomedov lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Ishii at a distance.
Nurmagomedov swats away the attempt to clinch by Ishii.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ishii uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nurmagomedov.
Ishii now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Nurmagomedov avoids the body shot from Ishii.
Nurmagomedov lands with a shot to the body.
Nurmagomedov takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Nurmagomedov on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Takeru Ishii will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ishii looks to score with a jab to the body but Nurmagomedov is just out of range.
Nurmagomedov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nurmagomedov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ishii.
Nurmagomedov defending well as Ishii loads up on a big left hand.
Ishii throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ishii lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Ishii throws a series of punches but Nurmagomedov avoids them all with ease.
Nurmagomedov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Takeru Ishii seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ishii is looking to clinch but Nurmagomedov is avoiding it.
Ishii steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov throws a series of punches but Ishii moves out of range.
Ishii scores with a jab to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmagomedov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ishii manages to avoid it.
Nurmagomedov closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Nurmagomedov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ishii with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Nurmagomedov takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nurmagomedov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ishii throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Nurmagomedov moves away from the strike by Ishii.
Ishii lands a jab-cross combination.
Nurmagomedov moves out of range of the strikes.
Nurmagomedov is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Ishii lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Nurmagomedov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ishii.
Nurmagomedov swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Ishii swings for the body but Nurmagomedov moves out of range.
Ishii misses with a combination
and Nurmagomedov counters with a nice uppercut.
Ishii feints a jab promting Nurmagomedov to slip. Ishii then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Nurmagomedov slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
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!
Nurmagomedov throws a body punch but Ishii moves out of range.
Ishii uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov just misses with a punch to the body.
Nurmagomedov connects with a jab.
Ishii avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Takeru Ishii is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov throws a jab but it's blocked by Ishii.
Nurmagomedov takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Ishii throws a nice outside leg kick.
Nurmagomedov checks a leg kick.
Ishii throws a leg kick that misses.
Ishii throws a front kick aimed at Nurmagomedov's knee but Nurmagomedov avoids it well.
Ishii comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Nurmagomedov fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Ishii looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Nurmagomedov blocks a leg kick.
Nurmagomedov lands a jab to the nose.
Nurmagomedov connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Ishii momentarily.
Nurmagomedov scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nurmagomedov lands a jab.
Nurmagomedov throws the left hand but Ishii avoids the punch easily.
Ishii looks to land a combination but Nurmagomedov avoids it well.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ishii. Nurmagomedov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nice body punch from Ishii.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takeru Ishii showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

A big left from Ishii misses.
Ishii looks to land a left hand but Nurmagomedov moved out of range nicely.
Ishii avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A little jabbing left from Ishii on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Ishii turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Ishii throws a nice inside leg kick.
Nurmagomedov misses with an uppercut.
Ishii on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Nurmagomedov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Ishii to counter with a crisp jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nurmagomedov. Ishii does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ishii feints and then cracks Nurmagomedov's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Nurmagomedov down.
Nurmagomedov throws a body shot but no joy.
Ishii throws a body punch but Nurmagomedov moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmagomedov just misses with a punch to the body.
Ishii fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ishii tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Nurmagomedov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ishii moves out of range as Nurmagomedov strikes.
Ishii keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ishii lands with a hook. Nurmagomedov tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nurmagomedov. Ishii does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nurmagomedov lands a nice shot to the body.
Nurmagomedov is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Ishii uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Nurmagomedov has time to react.
Ishii throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nurmagomedov.
Ishii uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nurmagomedov.
Donk. Ishii catches Nurmagomedov right on the button with a cross.
Nurmagomedov throws a hook but Ishii blocks it.
Nurmagomedov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ishii punishes Nurmagomedov's body with a nice straight punch.
Nurmagomedov swings for the body but Ishii moves out of range.
Ishii thows a leg kick but Nurmagomedov checks it
and Nurmagomedov counters with a nice uppercut.
Ishii keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
It seemed like Ishii was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Ishii keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nurmagomedov just misses with a punch to the body.
Ishii uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nurmagomedov.
Ishii misses with a straight right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ishii misses with a double jab.
Nurmagomedov checks a low kick from Ishii.
Nurmagomedov misses with a body shot.
Jab, jab by Ishii - just one landing.
Nurmagomedov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ishii.
Ishii fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Nurmagomedov has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Ishii throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Ishii fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Nurmagomedov misses with a wild body shot.
Ishii wants to counter the offense by Nurmagomedov and move into the clinch position.
Ishii connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Nurmagomedov takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Ishii bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ishii misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Nurmagomedov fails to land with a series of punches.
Ishii fails with an attempt to clinch.
Khabib Nurmagomedov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Takeru Ishii is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ishii keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Takeru Ishii comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ishii has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Takeru Ishii!