PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Milan Marinovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Valmir Nurmagomedov (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.

Marinovic
vs
Nurmagomedov

186 cm
22
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

168 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Milan Marinovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Valmir Nurmagomedov!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Sandra Marshall and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nurmagomedov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Marinovic is fending him off so far but Nurmagomedov persists. Nope, Marinovic circles away and we're back to standing.
Marinovic lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

It looks like Valmir Nurmagomedov has been cut.
Marinovic misses with a head kick.
Nurmagomedov tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Marinovic rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nurmagomedov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nurmagomedov changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Nurmagomedov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Marinovic throws a quick counter head kick but Nurmagomedov was just out of range.
Marinovic dives in and grabs Nurmagomedov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nurmagomedov pushes down on Marinovic's head and hops out.
Marinovic shoots in but no luck this time.
Marinovic keeps Nurmagomedov at a distance using the push kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Marinovic forces Nurmagomedov back against the cage and clinches.
Marinovic is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Nurmagomedov pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Milan Marinovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nurmagomedov is working for takedown but Marinovic is calmly controlling the position for now.
Nurmagomedov tries to circle away but Marinovic has him pinned against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Marinovic.

Marinovic manages to break the clinch.

Marinovic moves into range and clinches up with Nurmagomedov.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Nurmagomedov has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Marinovic is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Nurmagomedov has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Marinovic avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Marinovic gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Nurmagomedov.

Marinovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nurmagomedov has his takedown stuffed
and Marinovic counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marinovic dives in and grabs Nurmagomedov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nurmagomedov pushes down on Marinovic's head and hops out.

Nurmagomedov looking to score a takedown here. Marinovic is defending well but Nurmagomedov drives through and ends up in Marinovic's guard.
Nurmagomedov looks winded!

Nurmagomedov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nurmagomedov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Nurmagomedov won't allow Marinovic to get back to his feet.
Marinovic tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Marinovic is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Marinovic has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Milan Marinovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nurmagomedov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Marinovic throws a big counter combination but Nurmagomedov scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Marinovic lands with a kick to the temple. Nurmagomedov shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Marinovic clinches with his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov wants to take the fight to the mat but Marinovic manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Marinovic breaks from the clinch.
Marinovic misses with a body shot.
Marinovic throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nurmagomedov.
Marinovic slips a jab from Nurmagomedov.

Marinovic forces Nurmagomedov back against the cage and clinches.
Nurmagomedov is trying to drag Marinovic to the mat but Marinovic just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Nurmagomedov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Marinovic to keep the fight standing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Marinovic breaks from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Milan Marinovic dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Valmir Nurmagomedov's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Marinovic has managed to clinch.
Marinovic prevents a takedown attempt there.
Nurmagomedov tries to circle away but Marinovic has him pinned against the cage.

Marinovic manages to break the clinch.

Marinovic has closed the distance and engaged Nurmagomedov in a clinch.

Marinovic successfully pulls guard.

Nurmagomedov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nurmagomedov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marinovic seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Marinovic really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Nurmagomedov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Marinovic is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Nurmagomedov is fighting to break Marinovic's control of his arms but Marinovic is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nurmagomedov trying to control the position from guard on top but Marinovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Marinovic has his feet on Nurmagomedov's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Marinovic misses with a double jab.
Nurmagomedov shoots for a takedown but Marinovic saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Marinovic wants to take the fight to the mat but Nurmagomedov manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Marinovic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nurmagomedov shoots for a takedown but Marinovic saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Milan Marinovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Valmir Nurmagomedov.

Nurmagomedov throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Marinovic was covering up waiting for the punch and Nurmagomedov finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Marinovic pulls Nurmagomedov in close to his closed guard and prevents Nurmagomedov from doing any damage or advancing position.

Nurmagomedov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nurmagomedov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marinovic wants to stand up but Nurmagomedov is controlling him.

Nurmagomedov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Marinovic has control of Nurmagomedov's left arm, preventing Nurmagomedov from doing any damage.

That's four 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.
Marinovic looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nurmagomedov is one step ahead there.
Marinovic keeping moving, preventing Nurmagomedov from controlling successfully.

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

Marinovic takes the fight into the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Marinovic prevents the takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Milan Marinovic dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Valmir Nurmagomedov's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Nurmagomedov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Marinovic swivels and escapes.
Marinovic wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Nurmagomedov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A counter left hand to the body from Marinovic misses its target.
Sloppy strikes from Marinovic. Those never looked like landing.
Nurmagomedov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Marinovic throws a front kick that sends Nurmagomedov stumbling back into the cage.
Marinovic shoots in and drives through. Nurmagomedov sprawls well.
Marinovic looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Marinovic is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nurmagomedov can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nurmagomedov is defended easily by Marinovic.
Milan Marinovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Valmir Nurmagomedov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck for Marinovic with that takedown attempt.
Milan Marinovic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Marinovic wants to clinch.
Marinovic fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nurmagomedov drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Marinovic defends it well.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Marinovic.
Nurmagomedov tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Marinovic swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Nurmagomedov moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Marinovic takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Nurmagomedov goes for a takedown in the clinch but Marinovic prevents it.

Marinovic manages to pull guard.
Valmir Nurmagomedov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nurmagomedov trying to control the position from guard on top but Marinovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Nurmagomedov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marinovic working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov wants to pass the guard but Marinovic is keeping the position.
Marinovic preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Marinovic is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Nurmagomedov looking to pass the guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Milan Marinovic is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Marinovic shoots in but no luck this time.
Horrible takedown attempt by Nurmagomedov or perhaps it was just good defense by Marinovic, which made it look bad.
Nurmagomedov misses with a takedown attempt - Marinovic sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Marinovic is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Nurmagomedov.
Nice sprawl there from Marinovic as Nurmagomedov shoots in.
Marinovic cracks Nurmagomedov with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nurmagomedov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Milan Marinovic showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Marinovic, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Milan Marinovic!