PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nikoly Nurmagomedov (ranked 24985 p4p, 5353 weight class) and Canelo Cobra (ranked 0 p4p, 247 weight class). Nikoly Nurmagomedov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nurmagomedov
vs
Cobra

177 cm
24
155
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
24
140
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Nikoly Nurmagomedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Canelo Cobra!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Daniel Blasius and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cobra shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Nurmagomedov sprawls well. Nurmagomedov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cobra gets slowly back to his feet.
Cobra looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Nurmagomedov bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Nurmagomedov looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Nurmagomedov remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
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 Cobra for as long as he can get away with.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov working the ground and pound.
Cobra trying to remain calm as Nurmagomedov controls from the top position.
Cobra prevents Nurmagomedov from improving position.
Cobra is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cobra takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

Nurmagomedov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nurmagomedov working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nurmagomedov has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Cobra looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
A punch combination from Nurmagomedov misses.

Cobra gets caught flat footed, as Nurmagomedov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Nurmagomedov controls from within his opponent's guard.
Nurmagomedov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov advances position into side control!

Nurmagomedov tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Nurmagomedov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Cobra has escaped the position, nice work there.
Nurmagomedov is chipping away with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov controlling the position.
Nurmagomedov moves into full mount!
Nurmagomedov content just to control the position here.
Nurmagomedov dominating with strikes here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nurmagomedov controlling from the full mount.
A nice elbow there by Nurmagomedov.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nurmagomedov circles to his right before unloading a perfect head kick! Cobra drops to the canvas, hurt badly! Nurmagomedov follows Cobra to the ground and unloads with a series of strikes that force the referee to step in and end the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Nikoly Nurmagomedov!