PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nabib Kurmagomedov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergai Katanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sergai Katanov is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Kurmagomedov
vs
Katanov

174 cm
18
152 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

MR. Cleaners(laundry 90%)

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nabib Kurmagomedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergai Katanov!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Aleksandr Martynov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Katanov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kurmagomedov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Katanov avoids it really well and circles away.
Kurmagomedov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Kurmagomedov looking to score a takedown here. Katanov is defending well but Kurmagomedov drives through and ends up in Katanov's guard.
Kurmagomedov controlling from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Katanov controls Kurmagomedov momentarily but Kurmagomedov frees himself.
Kurmagomedov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurmagomedov wants to control from the top but Katanov keeps moving.
Katanov looking for a sweep. Not yet Katanov, not yet.
Kurmagomedov controls from within his opponent's guard.
Kurmagomedov stops Katanov from standing up.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Katanov being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Katanov stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nabib Kurmagomedov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kurmagomedov throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Katanov was covering up waiting for the punch and Kurmagomedov finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Katanov controls Kurmagomedov momentarily but Kurmagomedov frees himself.
Katanov seems keen to control Kurmagomedov's posture.

Kurmagomedov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Katanov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kurmagomedov has managed to get both his arms back between Katanov's legs - danger averted.
Kurmagomedov with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Katanov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Kurmagomedov gets to his feet - Katanov follows without any prompting.
Katanov throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Katanov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kurmagomedov drops down looking for a counter takedown but Katanov sprawls and moves away.
Katanov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kurmagomedov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Katanov pinned against the cage. Katanov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Katanov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kurmagomedov.
Katanov will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurmagomedov shoots for a double leg takedown but Katanov sprawls well. He's pushed Kurmagomedov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That kick from Katanov tenderised Kurmagomedov's leg. Kurmagomedov is trying to keep his angry face on.

Katanov has managed to clinch.

Kurmagomedov pulls guard effortlessly.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kurmagomedov is on top in guard.

Kurmagomedov stopping the sweep attempt from Katanov.
Kurmagomedov is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Mo's ($499) that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Kurmagomedov stops Katanov from standing up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kurmagomedov trying to control but Katanov is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kurmagomedov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Katanov is keeping the position for now.
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 Nabib Kurmagomedov 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.

Kurmagomedov changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Katanov throws a nice looking combination but Kurmagomedov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kurmagomedov appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Kurmagomedov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Katanov as he avoids it easily.
Katanov throws a head kick that misses

and Kurmagomedov moves into the clinch.
Kurmagomedov is pressed up against the cage. Katanov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kurmagomedov down to the mat. Kurmagomedov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Katanov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Kurmagomedov counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Katanov throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Kurmagomedov escapes and throws Katanov's legs to the side, diving into side control!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Katanov tries to bench press Kurmagomedov off him but Kurmagomedov keeps the position.
Katanov can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kurmagomedov stands up and beckons Katanov to his feet.

Kurmagomedov closes the distance and clinches.

Kurmagomedov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Katanov falls off balance throwing a combination

and Kurmagomedov counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Katanov trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Katanov is trying to keep Kurmagomedov in close.
Katanov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Katanov is working an open guard so Kurmagomedov takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Kurmagomedov gets a clinch.

Kurmagomedov jumps guard.
Katanov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Katanov wants to control from the top but Kurmagomedov keeps moving.
Katanov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kurmagomedov is proving hard to escape from.
Kurmagomedov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Katanov can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Katanov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Katanov preventing the sweep.
Kurmagomedov keeping moving, preventing Katanov from controlling successfully.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Katanov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kurmagomedov blocks the body kick.
Horrible takedown attempt by Kurmagomedov or perhaps it was just good defense by Katanov, which made it look bad.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Kurmagomedov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kurmagomedov lands in his opponent's guard.
Katanov wants to stand up but Kurmagomedov is controlling him.
Katanov trying to strike off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kurmagomedov stops Katanov from standing up.

Kurmagomedov decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Katanov, up you get!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kurmagomedov is defended easily by Katanov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Katanov falls off balance throwing a combination

and Kurmagomedov counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Katanov!
Katanov tries to buck Kurmagomedov off but Kurmagomedov is having none of it.
Katanov is not content to let Kurmagomedov control the position.
Katanov manages to work his way to half guard, despite Kurmagomedov's best efforts.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kurmagomedov throwing shots but Katanov is blocking nicely.
Katanov is looking for a sweep. Kurmagomedov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kurmagomedov is looking to take a break and control but Katanov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kurmagomedov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Katanov wants to control but Kurmagomedov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kurmagomedov trying to control from half guard but Katanov is working away.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A head kick misses from Katanov.
As Katanov looks to move away, Kurmagomedov throws a big counter combo bu Katanov just gets out of the way.
Nabib Kurmagomedov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Katanov misses with a kick to the body

and Kurmagomedov counters with a shoot takedown. Katanov fights it but they end up in guard.
Kurmagomedov wants to pass the guard but Katanov is keeping the position.
Katanov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kurmagomedov's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kurmagomedov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Katanov trying to control the position from guard on top but Kurmagomedov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Katanov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Katanov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Katanov wants to stand and escape but instead Kurmagomedov has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Katanov keeping moving, preventing Kurmagomedov from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Katanov has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Kurmagomedov should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Katanov has tightened it up now! Kurmagomedov should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Sergai Katanov!