PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Khabib Nurmagomedov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Evan Odds (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nurmagomedov
vs
Odds

177 cm
22
156 lbs
9 - 1 - 1

163 cm
22
140 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

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 9 - 1 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Khabib Nurmagomedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Evan Odds!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Kenichi Hosakawa and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Odds fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Nurmagomedov looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Nurmagomedov scores with a nice right hand.
Odds takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Odds lands a nice shot to the body.
Odds looks to land a combination but Nurmagomedov avoids it well.
Nurmagomedov shoots for a takedown but Odds saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Odds tries to counter with a clinch but Nurmagomedov shakes him off and moves away.
Odds has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Nurmagomedov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Odds.
Nurmagomedov looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Nurmagomedov shoots in looking for a takedown but Odds manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Nurmagomedov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Odds is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Nurmagomedov shoots in for a takedown but Odds shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Khabib Nurmagomedov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Odds doesn't manage to clinch there - Nurmagomedov circles away.
Odds connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Nurmagomedov shoots in and bounces Odds off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
Nurmagomedov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Odds controls Nurmagomedov momentarily but Nurmagomedov frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Odds utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Odds controls Nurmagomedov momentarily but Nurmagomedov frees himself.
Odds tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nurmagomedov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Odds keeping moving, preventing Nurmagomedov from controlling successfully.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Odds really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nurmagomedov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Odds looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Nurmagomedov passes into side control.
Nurmagomedov lands some shots froms side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Odds taking punishment in the form of punches.
You can see the frustration on Odds's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Nurmagomedov throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Nurmagomedov taking a break here but Odds is having none of it and regains half guard.
Nurmagomedov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Odds wants to get back to full guard but Nurmagomedov has passed into side control.
Nurmagomedov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Nurmagomedov tries to score with some ground and pound. Odds controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Odds is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Nurmagomedov is controlling him well.
Nurmagomedov working the ground and pound but Odds is defending the strikes.
Nurmagomedov lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Odds down.
Nurmagomedov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Odds keeps working.
Nurmagomedov tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Nurmagomedov in side control lands a decent elbow.
Nurmagomedov lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Odds down.
Sloppy strikes there by Nurmagomedov.
Check out the look on Nurmagomedov's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Odds gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Odds is staying active underneath Nurmagomedov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Odds is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Nurmagomedov scores with a couple of nice shots.
Odds is trying to control but can't.
Nurmagomedov working Odds over with strikes.
Odds wants to control but Nurmagomedov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Nurmagomedov working the head and body with strikes.
Nice strikes from Nurmagomedov there.
Nurmagomedov trying to control the action but Odds is working from the bottom.
Nurmagomedov controlling the action here.
Nurmagomedov working the head and body with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khabib Nurmagomedov dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Odds tries to clinch

and Nurmagomedov counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Odds!
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Odds can't do much from the bottom here.
Nurmagomedov works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Odds is looking to regain half guard here but Nurmagomedov keeps moving and retains side control.
Nurmagomedov tries to score with some ground and pound. Odds controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Odds wants to control but Nurmagomedov postures up.
Nurmagomedov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Odds can do to turn this around?
Nurmagomedov is looking to take a break and control but Odds is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmagomedov lands an elbow.
Nurmagomedov throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Odds works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Odds tries to get to full guard but Nurmagomedov has control of the leg.
Nurmagomedov is keen to just control but Odds is a slippery customer.
Nurmagomedov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nurmagomedov lands with a punch from half guard.
Odds has hold of Nurmagomedov's hands but Nurmagomedov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Odds has a hand on Nurmagomedov's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Nurmagomedov takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Odds slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Nurmagomedov wants to take a breather but Odds is having none of it.
Odds trying to control here.
Nurmagomedov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Khabib Nurmagomedov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Odds is not content to let Nurmagomedov control the position.
Nurmagomedov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Odds wants to control but Nurmagomedov is keeping busy.
Nurmagomedov throwing shots but Odds is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Odds is looking to improve his position.
Nurmagomedov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Nurmagomedov tries to pass the half guard into mount. Odds knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Nurmagomedov sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Nurmagomedov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Nurmagomedov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Odds blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov is controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Odds controlling the position well.
Odds is looking for a sweep. Nurmagomedov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Nurmagomedov is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Odds wants to control but Nurmagomedov is keeping busy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nurmagomedov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nurmagomedov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Odds sprawls well. Odds wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Nurmagomedov gets slowly back to his feet.
Odds throws a hook but Nurmagomedov blocks it.
Nurmagomedov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nurmagomedov gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Odds.
Odds misses with a jab to the body

and Nurmagomedov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Odds is looking to stand back up but Nurmagomedov counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Odds.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Odds tries to get to full guard but Nurmagomedov has control of the leg.
Odds desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Odds is trying to control but can't.
Nurmagomedov wants to control but Odds is keeping him busy.
Nurmagomedov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Nurmagomedov wants to control but Odds is keeping him busy.
Nurmagomedov scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Odds is looking to escape.
Nurmagomedov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Odds's head.
Evan Odds has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Odds makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Odds.
Nurmagomedov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Odds not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nurmagomedov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Nurmagomedov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Nurmagomedov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Odds is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Odds looking for subs off his back but Nurmagomedov has passed one foot through into half guard.
Nurmagomedov winds up and cracks Odds with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nurmagomedov throwing shots but Odds is blocking nicely.

Odds is defending against the submission attempts here by Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov is trying to control the action in half guard but Odds is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Odds has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nurmagomedov is working away from the top position though.
Khabib Nurmagomedov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nurmagomedov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nice strikes from Nurmagomedov there.
Nurmagomedov is nestled in close to Odds, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nurmagomedov wants to control but Odds is keeping him busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Khabib Nurmagomedov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nurmagomedov, 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Khabib Nurmagomedov!
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for Khabib Nurmagomedov!
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight for Khabib Nurmagomedov!

Khabib Nurmagomedov wins by unanimous decision!
After winning the bout, Khabib Nurmagomedov thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.