PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Khabib Abdulmanapovich Nurmagomedov (ranked 4593 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Quest (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.

Nurmagomedov
vs
Quest

178 cm
20
155
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
155
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Khabib Abdulmanapovich Nurmagomedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tony Quest!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Dillan Fox and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Quest looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Nurmagomedov tries to roll over but Quest keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nurmagomedov preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Nurmagomedov is looking to improve his position.
Quest tries to pass to full mount but Nurmagomedov defends it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmagomedov keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Nurmagomedov is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov is working hard here to advance position.
Well, if Quest is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Nurmagomedov keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Nurmagomedov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Nurmagomedov tries to get out of the position.
Quest wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nurmagomedov keeps working.
Nurmagomedov wants to improve his position but Quest is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Quest trying to control from half guard but Nurmagomedov is working away.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Quest shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Nurmagomedov is trying to defend but Quest finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Nurmagomedov is refusing to be controlled, as Quest sits in half guard.
Nurmagomedov controlling the position well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Quest is going to stand back up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Quest trying to control from half guard but Nurmagomedov is working away.
Nurmagomedov tries to roll over but Quest keeps him under control.
Nurmagomedov wants to control but Quest is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Nurmagomedov is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Nurmagomedov is looking to escape.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Quest tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nurmagomedov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nurmagomedov bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Nurmagomedov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Nurmagomedov stops a takedown attempt from Quest.

Nurmagomedov has Quest pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Nurmagomedov pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Quest tumbling to the mat - Nurmagomedov dives into Quest's guard.
Quest working a defensive guard here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nurmagomedov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tony Quest will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Nurmagomedov works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Nurmagomedov moves into range and clinches up with Quest.
Nurmagomedov tries to score a body lock takedown but Quest shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Nurmagomedov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Quest gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Quest lands a takedown into guard.
Nurmagomedov is controlling Quest's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Quest connects with a couple of short punches.
Quest pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nurmagomedov is keeping the position for now.
Quest trying to control but Nurmagomedov is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Quest stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nurmagomedov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nurmagomedov looking for a sweep. Not yet Nurmagomedov, not yet.
Nurmagomedov keeping moving, preventing Quest from controlling successfully.
Nurmagomedov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Quest pushing down on Nurmagomedov's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Nurmagomedov is trying to stand back up but Quest is controlling him
Nurmagomedov trying to control from the bottom.
Nurmagomedov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Quest lands with a punch from half guard.
Nurmagomedov is looking to control Quest's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nurmagomedov avoid being mounted?
Quest looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Quest prevents Nurmagomedov from improving his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nurmagomedov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Quest wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov fails to land with a series of punches.

Nurmagomedov scores with a takedown into Quest's guard.
Quest is looking to stand back up but Nurmagomedov counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Quest.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Quest pushes Nurmagomedov off but Nurmagomedov dives into side control.
Nurmagomedov controlling the position from side mount.
Quest is trying to control Nurmagomedov's posture but Nurmagomedov avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Quest tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Quest struggling a bit here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nurmagomedov is staying tight to Quest's torso, preventing him from escaping.
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 Khabib Abdulmanapovich Nurmagomedov will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Nurmagomedov fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Quest sprawls well initially but Nurmagomedov persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Nurmagomedov stops Quest from getting back to his feet.
Nurmagomedov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Nurmagomedov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Quest on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmagomedov seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Quest for as long as he can get away with.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Quest wants to control but Nurmagomedov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Nurmagomedov is taking a breather. Quest says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Khabib Abdulmanapovich Nurmagomedov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Nurmagomedov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Quest's guard.
Quest wants to get back to his feet but Nurmagomedov passes into half guard.

Quest wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Quest wants to improve his position but Nurmagomedov is controlling well.
Nurmagomedov is taking a breather. Quest says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Quest works his way to full guard. Good work.
Nurmagomedov content to stall in guard here.
Quest manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nurmagomedov manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Quest stopping the sweep attempt from Nurmagomedov.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nurmagomedov has Quest pulled in close to control his posture.
Quest controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Nurmagomedov pulls Quest in to control the position.
Tony Quest has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Quest passes into half guard.
Nurmagomedov wants to get back to full guard.
Quest is looking to take a break and control but Nurmagomedov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nurmagomedov keeping control of the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Quest drives through and clinches with Nurmagomedov against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nurmagomedov goes for a takedown attempt but Quest pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Nurmagomedov forces Quest back against the cage and clinches.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Khabib Abdulmanapovich Nurmagomedov.
I think Nurmagomedov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight for Khabib Abdulmanapovich Nurmagomedov!
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight for Tony Quest!
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight for Khabib Abdulmanapovich Nurmagomedov!

Khabib Abdulmanapovich Nurmagomedov wins by split decision!
Post fight, Khabib Abdulmanapovich Nurmagomedov stared into the camera and said 'Alhamdullilah, send me location.'.