PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Draco Nightfury (ranked 25149 p4p, 558 weight class) and Khabib Nurmagomedov (ranked 4342 p4p, 399 weight class). Khabib Nurmagomedov has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Draco Nightfury's chin.

Nightfury
vs
Nurmagomedov

170 cm
26
160 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

179 cm
22
155 lbs
9 - 9 - 0

Solid boxing
Experienced

Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Draco Nightfury!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Khabib Nurmagomedov!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Sosuke Kotani and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nightfury keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nightfury misses with the combination.
Nightfury doesn't manage to clinch there - Nurmagomedov circles away.
Nurmagomedov is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Nightfury with a body shot.
Nurmagomedov swings for the body but Nightfury moves out of range.
Nurmagomedov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nightfury moves away.
Nightfury misses with a hook. Nurmagomedov ducked under it nicely.
Nightfury blocks a jab.
Nurmagomedov moves out of range as Nightfury strikes.
Nurmagomedov misses with the combination.
Nurmagomedov just misses with a punch to the body.
Nightfury is looking to counter punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmagomedov throws a body shot but no joy.
Nurmagomedov misses with a body shot.
Nightfury tries to close the distance and clinch but Nurmagomedov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nightfury misses with a body kick.
Nurmagomedov has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Nightfury.
Nurmagomedov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Nightfury.
Nurmagomedov swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Nurmagomedov swings for the body but Nightfury moves out of range.
Nightfury tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Nurmagomedov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nightfury definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Nightfury pivots, looking for a leg kick but Nurmagomedov is out of range and Nightfury settles back down.
Nurmagomedov looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Nightfury attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Nightfury throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov checks a leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Nightfury.
Nightfury throws a sloppy head kick
and Nurmagomedov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Nightfury throws a head kick that half lands.
Nurmagomedov blocks a head kick by Nightfury.
Draco Nightfury is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nurmagomedov swings for the body but Nightfury moves out of range.
Nurmagomedov misses with a body shot.
Nightfury thows a body kick. Nurmagomedov tries to catch it but that hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nightfury throws a front kick aimed at Nurmagomedov's knee but Nurmagomedov avoids it well.
Nurmagomedov on the wrong end of a nice jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nurmagomedov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nightfury thuds his right hand into Nurmagomedov's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Nurmagomedov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nightfury manages to avoid it.
Nightfury is looking to counter the offense by Nurmagomedov and move into the clinch.
Nightfury does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Khabib Nurmagomedov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Decent striking displayed by Nurmagomedov there.
Nightfury connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Nightfury pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Nurmagomedov fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Nightfury looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Nurmagomedov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nightfury is looking to counter punch.
Nightfury looks to land a right hand but Nurmagomedov moved out of range.
Nightfury ducks right into an uppercut from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Nightfury rather than just go for the knockout.
A decent looking cross lands there for Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov throws the left hand but Nightfury avoids the punch easily.
A punch combination from Nurmagomedov misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Draco Nightfury will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nightfury misses with an attempted mid kick.
Nurmagomedov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nightfury manages to avoid it.
Nightfury misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nurmagomedov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nightfury misses with a leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nightfury looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nurmagomedov throws a body shot but no joy.
Nightfury throws a body shot but no joy.
The fighters circling - Nightfury throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nurmagomedov checks the leg kick nicely there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice shot lands for Nightfury.
Nurmagomedov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nurmagomedov swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Nurmagomedov looks to land a left hand but Nightfury moved out of range nicely.
Nurmagomedov fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Nightfury on the side of the head.
Nightfury takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
The fighters circle momentarily. Nurmagomedov darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov clobbers Nightfury with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Nightfury on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Nightfury is looking to clinch but Nurmagomedov is avoiding it.
Nightfury connects with a right hand. Nurmagomedov shakes it off.
Nightfury jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nightfury lands a jab.
Nurmagomedov takes a swing at Nightfury's ribcage but misses.
Nightfury with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Nightfury motions for Nurmagomedov to come forward. Nightfury throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Nightfury lands a jab.
Nightfury has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Nurmagomedov finds it's way round the side to connect with Nightfury's head.
Nurmagomedov misses with a combination
and Nightfury counters with an inside leg kick.
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!
Nightfury uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nurmagomedov.
Nightfury catches Nurmagomedov with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nightfury doesn't manage to clinch there - Nurmagomedov circles away.
Nurmagomedov checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Nightfury throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nurmagomedov throws a body shot but no joy.
Nightfury turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Nurmagomedov lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Nurmagomedov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nurmagomedov misses with a left hand
and Nightfury connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A punch lands to the side of Nurmagomedov 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Nightfury ducks under a wild hook from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov moves out of range of the body kick.
Nurmagomedov misses the shot to the body.
Nightfury throws a looping overhand right but Nurmagomedov ducks down to avoid it.
Nurmagomedov swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Nightfury counters with a straight right hand.
Nightfury looking to land some kicks to the body here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Draco Nightfury dominated that second round.
That's time! Nightfury's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Nightfury tries a head kick but it misses.
Nightfury tries to clinch but Nurmagomedov moves out of range.
Nurmagomedov throws a jab but it's blocked by Nightfury.
Nightfury tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nurmagomedov throws a right hand that Nightfury ducks under and follows up with a left that Nightfury also avoids with ease.
Nurmagomedov just misses with a punch to the body.
Nightfury explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Nightfury takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Nightfury tries to bum rush Nurmagomedov with a series of wild strikes but Nurmagomedov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nightfury connects with a good right hand that stumbles Nurmagomedov. Nurmagomedov circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Nightfury lands a head kick. Nurmagomedov smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Nurmagomedov keeps the fight on the outside.
Nightfury wants to clinch up but Nurmagomedov keeps it at a distance.
Nightfury doesn't manage to clinch there - Nurmagomedov circles away.
Nurmagomedov blocks a low kick nicely.
Nurmagomedov is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Nightfury with a body shot.
A head kick misses from Nightfury.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nightfury connects with a leg kick. Nurmagomedov looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Nightfury throws an overhand right that lands on Nurmagomedov's shoulder, as Nurmagomedov tries to avoid the shot.
Nurmagomedov let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Nurmagomedov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nightfury.
Nurmagomedov ducks under a wild hook from Nightfury.
A jab from Nightfury misses.
Nightfury lands a nice looking kick to the body. Nurmagomedov takes a step back to recover.
Nurmagomedov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nightfury.
Nightfury lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Nurmagomedov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nightfury doesn't manage to clinch there - Nurmagomedov circles away.
Nightfury tries to close the distance and clinch but Nurmagomedov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nightfury avoids the body shot from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov with a nice cross.
Nightfury thumps Nurmagomedov with a low kick.
Nightfury swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nightfury bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Nightfury is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nurmagomedov can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nightfury waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Nurmagomedov.
Nightfury on the wrong end of a nice hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nightfury slips a straight right by Nurmagomedov.
Nightfury misses with a hook
letting Nurmagomedov counter with a right hand.
Nurmagomedov checks a low kick from Nightfury.
Nightfury misses with a double jab.
Nurmagomedov throws a counter combo.
Nurmagomedov looks to land a combination but Nightfury avoids it well.
Nurmagomedov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nurmagomedov dodges the punch combination from Nightfury.
Nurmagomedov fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Nightfury looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Nightfury fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov dips to his left and cracks Nightfury with an uppercut!
Khabib Nurmagomedov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nightfury uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nurmagomedov.

And that's the end of the fight!
Draco Nightfury showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nightfury 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Draco Nightfury!