PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jon Nurmagomedov (ranked 4501 p4p, 4678 weight class) and Jayson Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nurmagomedov
vs
Howard

185 cm
18
190
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
175
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jon Nurmagomedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jayson Howard!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Steve Erwin and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howard falls off balance throwing a combination

and Nurmagomedov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Howard manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Nurmagomedov keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Howard is trying to break free.
Howard is trying to break the clinch but Nurmagomedov is controlling him.
Nurmagomedov has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Howard is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Nurmagomedov has clasped his hands together around Howard's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Howard is trying to improve his position.
Nurmagomedov is staying tight to Howard's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Howard is looking for a sweep.
Howard can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov controls the position.
Nurmagomedov seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Howard for as long as he can get away with.
You can see the frustration on Howard's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A lull in the action here as Nurmagomedov stalls from top position.
Howard tries to escape but Nurmagomedov is in control.
Howard is being controlled here.
Nurmagomedov has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Nurmagomedov.
Howard is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov slows the pace down.
Howard is looking for a sweep.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Howard is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Nurmagomedov is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Howard clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov wants a takedown.
Nurmagomedov tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jon Nurmagomedov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nurmagomedov has Howard pressed against the cage, preventing Howard from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Howard softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nurmagomedov wants to take the fight to the mat but Howard manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jayson Howard will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Howard tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Howard throws a sloppy head kick and Nurmagomedov moves out of range easily.
Nurmagomedov feinted with a counter takedown.
Howard throws a head kick that misses

and Nurmagomedov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Howard trying to control the position.
Nurmagomedov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Nurmagomedov preventing the sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmagomedov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Howard is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nurmagomedov defends well.
Howard being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Jon Nurmagomedov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Howard lands with a nice combination. Nurmagomedov backs away looking to recover.
Howard shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nurmagomedov appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
A head kick misses from Howard.
Nurmagomedov drops down looking for a counter takedown but Howard sprawls and moves away.
Howard throws a lazy head kick

so Nurmagomedov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Howard is breathing heavily.
Nurmagomedov sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov continues to hold on tight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov continues to stall.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Howard throws a lazy body kick

and Nurmagomedov counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Howard!
Howard can't do much from the bottom here.
Howard is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Nurmagomedov asserts his dominance and retains side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Nurmagomedov dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Howard falls off balance throwing a combination

and Nurmagomedov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Howard's guard.
Nurmagomedov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Howard is trying to control the position but Nurmagomedov postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Howard wants to stand and escape but Nurmagomedov is having none of it.
Howard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nurmagomedov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard looking to control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Howard misses with a head kick.
Nurmagomedov appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Howard throws a combination that misses

and Nurmagomedov counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Howard!
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Howard can't do much from the bottom here.
Howard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
More hug and hope from Nurmagomedov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard tries to improve position but can't.
Nurmagomedov controlling the position from side mount.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
A head kick misses from Howard.
Howard throws a left and a right that both miss

and Nurmagomedov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Nurmagomedov.

Howard has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Nurmagomedov is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Howard pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Nurmagomedov is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Howard is defending well.
Nurmagomedov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Howard fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jon Nurmagomedov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A right-left combo lands from Howard.
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!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Howard misses with a double jab

and Nurmagomedov counters with a nice double leg into guard.

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 Jon 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 Ben Watson scores the fight for Jon Nurmagomedov!
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight for Jon Nurmagomedov!
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight for Jon Nurmagomedov!

Jon Nurmagomedov wins by unanimous decision!