PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ao Ki (ranked 1242 p4p, 129 weight class) and Khabib Nurmagomedov (ranked 3190 p4p, 307 weight class). Khabib Nurmagomedov acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the ring.

Ki
vs
Nurmagomedov

181 cm
25
157 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

177 cm
24
156 lbs
10 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

RAGS of a RONIN

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 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ao Ki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Khabib Nurmagomedov!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick by Ki misses

and Nurmagomedov counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Ki keeping moving, preventing Nurmagomedov from controlling successfully.

Ki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Nurmagomedov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Nurmagomedov controls from within his opponent's guard.

Ki looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Nurmagomedov passes into side control.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmagomedov is chipping away with strikes.
Nurmagomedov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov is looking to take a break and control but Ki is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ki tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ki is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Nurmagomedov is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Ki's coaches at Hard Knocks Training have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Ki wants to control but Nurmagomedov is having none of it.
Ki is looking to improve his position but Nurmagomedov isn't that keen on the idea.
Nurmagomedov working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Ki is working to get back to half guard.
Ki sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ki with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Nurmagomedov working Ki over with strikes.
Nurmagomedov winds up and cracks Ki with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Ki looking for submissions off his back.
Ki tries to roll over but Nurmagomedov keeps him under control.
Nurmagomedov is nestled in close to Ki, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Ki is rocked!
Nurmagomedov lands with a punch from half guard.
Oh Ki is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Nurmagomedov drops an elbow to the side of Ki's head.
Ki seems to have got his legs back now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nurmagomedov is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ki doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Nurmagomedov.
Ki is trying to get back to full guard.
Nurmagomedov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Nurmagomedov lands with a punch from half guard.
My spies in Pride inform me that Nurmagomedov has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Nurmagomedov scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Ki regains full guard. Nicely done.

Ki working for a triangle but Nurmagomedov defends it easily.
Ki keeping moving, preventing Nurmagomedov from controlling successfully.
Nurmagomedov distracts Ki with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Nurmagomedov stands over his opponent and dives in with a flying punch! Ki throws up his legs and catches Nurmagomedov in a triangle! Oh this looks tight! Nurmagomedov tries to escape but he's forced to tap! Wow, fantastic work there by Ki! That came out of nowhere!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Ao Ki!
Ao Ki took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, RAGS of a RONIN for their support in the buildup to the fight.