PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jorge Santiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kavkaz Nurmagomedgadjiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Santiago has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Kavkaz Nurmagomedgadjiev acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Santiago
vs
Nurmagomedgadjiev

185 cm
25
170 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jorge Santiago !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kavkaz Nurmagomedgadjiev!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Paulsen Ambrosius and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nurmagomedgadjiev defending well as Santiago loads up on a big left hand.
Nurmagomedgadjiev misses with a head kick.

Nurmagomedgadjiev looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Nurmagomedgadjiev controls from within his opponent's guard.
Santiago wants to stand and escape but Nurmagomedgadjiev is having none of it.
Nurmagomedgadjiev looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Santiago is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nurmagomedgadjiev postures up in Santiago 's guard and throws a big left but Santiago blocks it.
Nurmagomedgadjiev trying to control but Santiago is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Santiago enables Nurmagomedgadjiev to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Santiago manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Nurmagomedgadjiev must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Santiago is breathing heavily.
Nurmagomedgadjiev not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santiago wants to stand up but Nurmagomedgadjiev is controlling him.
Nurmagomedgadjiev looking to pass the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nurmagomedgadjiev accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nurmagomedgadjiev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Santiago is keeping the position for now.
Nurmagomedgadjiev slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Nurmagomedgadjiev tries to free his leg and advance position but Santiago is retaining full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Nurmagomedgadjiev scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Nurmagomedgadjiev is controlling the pace.
Santiago is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedgadjiev trying to control the pace.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Nurmagomedgadjiev prevents Santiago from standing back up.
Nurmagomedgadjiev controlling the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Kavkaz Nurmagomedgadjiev.
Some wild striking there from Nurmagomedgadjiev.
Santiago lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Nurmagomedgadjiev backs up against the cage.

Nurmagomedgadjiev gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Nurmagomedgadjiev wants a takedown but no success here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedgadjiev lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Nurmagomedgadjiev looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Nurmagomedgadjiev keeps control of Santiago as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Nurmagomedgadjiev lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Nurmagomedgadjiev works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Nurmagomedgadjiev controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Kavkaz Nurmagomedgadjiev wasn't active enough on the ground.

Nurmagomedgadjiev closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Santiago to the mat! Santiago manages to get full guard.
Nurmagomedgadjiev wants to control from the top but Santiago keeps moving.
Nurmagomedgadjiev controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Nurmagomedgadjiev tries to free his leg and advance position but Santiago is retaining full guard.
Santiago keeping moving, preventing Nurmagomedgadjiev from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nurmagomedgadjiev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Santiago swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nurmagomedgadjiev preventing the sweep.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Kavkaz Nurmagomedgadjiev wasn't active enough on the ground.
A punch lands to the side of Santiago 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Nurmagomedgadjiev ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kavkaz Nurmagomedgadjiev dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nurmagomedgadjiev is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Santiago 's half guard.
Well, if Nurmagomedgadjiev 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.
Nurmagomedgadjiev thows a huge punch but Santiago dodges it nicely.
Santiago is staying active underneath Nurmagomedgadjiev, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nurmagomedgadjiev seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Let's hope that Nurmagomedgadjiev has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kavkaz Nurmagomedgadjiev was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Nurmagomedgadjiev scores a takedown into full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedgadjiev sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nurmagomedgadjiev looking to ground and pound but Santiago is blocking nicely.
Nurmagomedgadjiev unloads with some shots from mount but Santiago bucks and avoids them well.
Nurmagomedgadjiev controlling his opponent.
Santiago 's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Nurmagomedgadjiev looking to control and managing it successfully.
Nurmagomedgadjiev misses with a head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nurmagomedgadjiev sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Nurmagomedgadjiev trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Nurmagomedgadjiev tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Nurmagomedgadjiev looking to control but Santiago is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Nurmagomedgadjiev controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kavkaz Nurmagomedgadjiev has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Nurmagomedgadjiev lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Nurmagomedgadjiev.

It looks like Jorge Santiago has been cut.

Nurmagomedgadjiev fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Santiago , pushing him back against the cage.
Nurmagomedgadjiev changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Santiago fights it off and pushes away nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nurmagomedgadjiev looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nurmagomedgadjiev closes this distance looking for a takedown but Santiago circles away.

Nurmagomedgadjiev darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Nurmagomedgadjiev trying to control the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedgadjiev throwing shots but Santiago is blocking nicely.
Nurmagomedgadjiev is figuring out what he wants to do next.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kavkaz Nurmagomedgadjiev was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Nurmagomedgadjiev attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

Santiago gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Nurmagomedgadjiev to score an easy takedown into full guard.
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 applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Santiago wants to stand up but Nurmagomedgadjiev is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kavkaz Nurmagomedgadjiev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jorge Santiago 's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nurmagomedgadjiev throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Santiago tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Nurmagomedgadjiev is in Santiago 's guard.
Nurmagomedgadjiev trying to control but Santiago is working from the bottom.
Santiago preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Nurmagomedgadjiev sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Nurmagomedgadjiev wants to control from the top but Santiago keeps moving.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Nurmagomedgadjiev looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Nurmagomedgadjiev tries to free his leg and advance position but Santiago is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Kavkaz Nurmagomedgadjiev.

Nurmagomedgadjiev scores a takedown into full mount!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Santiago is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Nurmagomedgadjiev content just to control the position here.
Santiago wants to control but Nurmagomedgadjiev is having none of it.
Nurmagomedgadjiev throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Santiago holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Nurmagomedgadjiev tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Nurmagomedgadjiev sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Santiago on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Santiago tries to get out of the position.
Nurmagomedgadjiev tries to control but Santiago wriggling away.
Nurmagomedgadjiev controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santiago wants to hold on but Nurmagomedgadjiev pushes him away.
Nurmagomedgadjiev tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Nurmagomedgadjiev thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Nurmagomedgadjiev looking to ground and pound but Santiago is blocking nicely.
Santiago is looking to get to half guard.
Nurmagomedgadjiev controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Nurmagomedgadjiev there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Nurmagomedgadjiev content just to control the position here.
Santiago avoids a series of strikes thrown by Nurmagomedgadjiev.
Nurmagomedgadjiev controlling from mount.
Nurmagomedgadjiev trying to control but Santiago is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nurmagomedgadjiev controlling from the full mount.
Nurmagomedgadjiev throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Nurmagomedgadjiev looking to ground and pound but Santiago is blocking nicely.
Jorge Santiago has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nurmagomedgadjiev controlling from the full mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kavkaz Nurmagomedgadjiev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nurmagomedgadjiev has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 26:30
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kavkaz Nurmagomedgadjiev!