PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Khabib Nurmagomedov (ranked 3700 p4p, 353 weight class) and Tong Po (ranked 6295 p4p, 453 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Nurmagomedov
vs
Po

179 cm
22
155 lbs
7 - 8 - 0

167 cm
26
160 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

Solid boxing
Good chin

Excellent boxer
Granite chin

UnderGround Supplements

Dr Zoidberg Office

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 - 8 - 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 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tong Po!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yukihiro Shimada and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A bone on bone clash there as Nurmagomedov blocks the leg kick.
Po throws a good cross that connects.
Po steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nurmagomedov.
A little jabbing left from Po on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Po on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Nice defenses there by Nurmagomedov.
Po misses with an uppercut.
Po throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Nurmagomedov wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nurmagomedov. Po does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nurmagomedov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nurmagomedov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmagomedov misses with a jab to the body
and Po counters with a stiff right hand.
Po throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Nurmagomedov stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Nice body punch from Nurmagomedov.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Po bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nurmagomedov connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Po looks to throw the jab but Nurmagomedov is out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Nurmagomedov misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nurmagomedov misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Po counters with a stiff right hand.
Nurmagomedov misses with a body shot.
Nurmagomedov throws the left hand but Po avoids the punch easily.
Nurmagomedov keeps the fight on the outside.
Nurmagomedov is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Nurmagomedov throws a one two combo.
Nurmagomedov wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Nurmagomedov connects with a body shot that sends Po's belly button to the back.
Nurmagomedov takes a swing at Po's ribcage but misses.
Tong Po is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nurmagomedov avoids the body shot from Po.
Nurmagomedov takes a swing at Po's ribcage but misses.
Nurmagomedov slips a straight right by Po.
Nurmagomedov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Po.
Khabib Nurmagomedov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nurmagomedov misses the shot to the body.
Po tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov looks to score with a jab to the body but Po is just out of range.
Nurmagomedov ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
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!
Po keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nurmagomedov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nurmagomedov looks to throw the jab but Po is out of range.
Nurmagomedov lands a nice shot to the body.
Po uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov misses the shot to the body.
Po now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Po fails to land with a series of punches.
A counter left hand to the body from Nurmagomedov misses its target.
Po thows a left - swing and a miss!
Po fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nurmagomedov manages to avoid it.
Nurmagomedov checks a leg kick nicely.
Po misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nurmagomedov.
Po lands a right hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khabib Nurmagomedov dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nurmagomedov moves away from the strike by Po.
Nurmagomedov swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Po counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Nurmagomedov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Po.
Nurmagomedov swings for the body but Po moves out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Nurmagomedov misses the target.
Po avoids the body shot from Nurmagomedov.
Po looks to land a left hand but Nurmagomedov moved out of range nicely.
Po throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nurmagomedov is looking to wear down Po with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Po misses with a hook
and Nurmagomedov counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Nurmagomedov misses with an uppercut.
Nurmagomedov ducks under a wild hook from Po.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmagomedov misses with a few strikes there.
Po looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Nurmagomedov moves out of range as Po strikes.
Nurmagomedov is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Nurmagomedov checks the leg kick nicely there.
Po throws a jab when Nurmagomedov was well out of range.
A quick step to the side and Nurmagomedov tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Po counters with a stiff right hand.
Po missing with a left hand there. Nurmagomedov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nurmagomedov lands a nice hook to Po's body. Po takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Nurmagomedov lands with a cross.
Po throws a body shot but no joy.
Nurmagomedov throws a body shot but no joy.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nurmagomedov. Po does a little dance to reset his feet.
A countering left hand to the body from Po misses.
Po throws a poor cross that misses
and Nurmagomedov counters with a nice uppercut.
Po throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nurmagomedov misses with a hook. Po ducked under it nicely.
Nurmagomedov scores with a hook.
A decent looking cross lands there for Nurmagomedov.
Po lands a nice shot to the body.
Nurmagomedov swings for the body but Po moves out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Po swings for the body but Nurmagomedov moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
A punch combination from Nurmagomedov misses.
Po uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nurmagomedov.
Po pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nurmagomedov misses with a wild combination.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Po! But no joy.
Po's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Nurmagomedov connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Po scrambles back to his feet.
Po avoids the body shot from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Po takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Nurmagomedov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Po moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Po fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nurmagomedov throws a hook but Po avoids it easily.
Po displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nurmagomedov throws out the jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khabib Nurmagomedov dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Po connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Nurmagomedov connects with a right hand. Po shakes it off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Po looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nurmagomedov lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Po tries to clinch but Nurmagomedov moves out of range.
Nurmagomedov throws out a loose jab but Po uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nurmagomedov looks to land a left hand but Po moved out of range nicely.
Po swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmagomedov throws out a loose jab but Po uses good head movement to avoid it.
Khabib Nurmagomedov is winning the standup battle so far.
Nurmagomedov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Po.
Po swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nurmagomedov scores with a crisp jab that stopped Po in his tracks.
Nurmagomedov takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Po looks to score with a jab to the body but Nurmagomedov is just out of range.
Po throws an off balance right hand
and Nurmagomedov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nurmagomedov slips under a jab.
Nurmagomedov works the jab nicely.
Nice shot by Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov slips under a jab.
Nurmagomedov swings for the body but Po moves out of range.
Nurmagomedov throws the left hand but Po avoids the punch easily.
Nurmagomedov slips a straight right by Po.
Nurmagomedov swings for the body but Po moves out of range.
Po bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Nurmagomedov's head backwards.
Nurmagomedov throws a lazy right hand but Po sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nurmagomedov ducks under a wild hook from Po.
Po misses with a left hand
and Nurmagomedov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Some wild striking there from Po.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Po throws an overhand right that lands on Nurmagomedov's shoulder, as Nurmagomedov tries to avoid the shot.
A little feinted left hand from Nurmagomedov on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Po walks into a left hand.
A leg kick checked by Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov stuns Po with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Nurmagomedov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Po falls off balance throwing a combination
and Nurmagomedov makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Nurmagomedov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Po was well out of range. Poor timing from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
A lazy left from Po finds it's target.
Po ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nurmagomedov moves away.
Nurmagomedov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Po can do to turn this around?
Nurmagomedov is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Tong Po has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nurmagomedov drops his hands momentarily and Po takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Khabib Nurmagomedov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nurmagomedov 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Khabib Nurmagomedov!
During a confident post fight interview, Khabib Nurmagomedov thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
The defeated Tong Po had this to say: 'I live by the sword I die by the sword, Whatever happened has happened, no looking back now, the moment is gone...'.