PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tarkhan Naranbaatar (ranked 294 p4p, 43 weight class) and Nikolai Luzhin (ranked 497 p4p, 80 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Naranbaatar might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Batzorig Vaanchig. Luzhin has chosen The time has come... as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Naranbaatar
vs
Luzhin

178 cm
27
176 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

181 cm
38
174 lbs
32 - 15 - 3

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Bullet Proof System
KAISER Nutrition - Q160

Aspire Clothing

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 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Tarkhan Naranbaatar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 15 - 3, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nikolai Luzhin!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Alec Ball and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Naranbaatar misses the jab.
Naranbaatar moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromLuzhin.
Luzhin ducks under a wild hook from Naranbaatar.
Luzhin replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Naranbaatar blocks it well.
Luzhin lands a front kick.
Naranbaatar connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
We've been hearing reports that Naranbaatar has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Luzhin takes a kick to the side of the head.
Naranbaatar digs a good body shot into Luzhin's ribs.
Luzhin works over Naranbaatar's head and body with a nice combination.
Luzhin swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Naranbaatar.
Luzhin doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
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!
A head kick misses from Luzhin.
Naranbaatar just misses with a punch to the body.
A slapping body kick lands there for Luzhin.
Naranbaatar avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Luzhin, right into the meat.
Luzhin connects with a body shot.
Luzhin throws a low kick, looking for Naranbaatar's leg but Naranbaatar calmly moves out of range.
Naranbaatar avoids the body shot from Luzhin.
Luzhin connects with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luzhin stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Luzhin wants it to stay on the feet.
Naranbaatar moves away from the strike by Luzhin.
Naranbaatar uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Luzhin.
Nice body kick from Naranbaatar.
Naranbaatar looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Luzhin takes a swing at Naranbaatar's ribcage but misses.
Naranbaatar will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Naranbaatar is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Luzhin.
Nice defenses there by Luzhin.
Naranbaatar moves out of range of the body kick.
Luzhin on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Naranbaatar. Naranbaatar obviously looking to wear him down.
Luzhin scores with a sloppy right hand. Naranbaatar should have avoided that one.
Nikolai Luzhin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Naranbaatar keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Luzhin.
Luzhin goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Luzhin blocks a jab.
Nikolai Luzhin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Naranbaatar lands a nice shot that snaps Luzhin's head back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Luzhin.
Luzhin blocks a head kick by Naranbaatar.
Naranbaatar shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Naranbaatar misses with a hook. Luzhin ducked under it nicely.
Luzhin misses with an uppercut.
Naranbaatar swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Luzhin.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Naranbaatar, as that shot connected.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Luzhin.
A combination from Luzhin does no damage.
Naranbaatar appears to be looking for a big counter.
Luzhin jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Luzhin delivers a nice body kick.
Luzhin throws a push kick but Naranbaatar slaps the foot to one side.
Naranbaatar digs a good body shot into Luzhin's ribs.
Naranbaatar lands with a good body shot.
Luzhin misses with a body kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Luzhin. Naranbaatar does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naranbaatar is looking to score with low kicks.
Naranbaatar moves out of range of the body kick from Luzhin.
Nice body kick from Luzhin.
Luzhin throws a front kick aimed at Naranbaatar's knee but Naranbaatar avoids it well.
Naranbaatar misses with a lunging right hand
and Luzhin counters with a stiff right hand.
Naranbaatar misses with a few strikes there.
Luzhin swings for the body but Naranbaatar moves out of range.
Luzhin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Naranbaatar throws out the jab.
Luzhin fails to land with a series of punches.
Nice defenses there by Naranbaatar.
Naranbaatar swings for the body but Luzhin moves out of range.
Naranbaatar thows a left - swing and a miss!
Naranbaatar connects with a crisp jab.
Naranbaatar jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Naranbaatar lands a nice looking body kick.
Luzhin scores with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luzhin swings for the body but Naranbaatar moves out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Luzhin ducks under a wild hook from Naranbaatar.
Luzhin swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Naranbaatar counters with a low kick, right behind Luzhin 's knee.
Naranbaatar throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Luzhin looks for the body kick but Naranbaatar saw that one coming.
Naranbaatar throws a nice head kick!
Naranbaatar takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Luzhin thuds his right hand into Naranbaatar's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Luzhin tries a head kick but it misses.
Naranbaatar lands with a shot to the body.
Luzhin throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Luzhin takes a swing at Naranbaatar's ribcage but misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Naranbaatar takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Luzhin.
Luzhin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Naranbaatar.
Luzhin throws a body kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Luzhin dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Naranbaatar lands with a shot to the body.
Luzhin takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Naranbaatar paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Naranbaatar misses with a leg kick
and Luzhin counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Luzhin takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Luzhin steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Naranbaatar. That one must have hurt.
Naranbaatar defending well as Luzhin loads up on a big left hand.
Nikolai Luzhin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Naranbaatar slips under a jab.
Luzhin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Naranbaatar.
Luzhin misses with a hook. Naranbaatar ducked under it nicely.
Luzhin steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Naranbaatar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good work by Luzhin as he checks the leg kick.
A nice side step and Luzhin releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Luzhin swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Naranbaatar is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Naranbaatar looks to score with a jab to the body but Luzhin is just out of range.
Luzhin flicks out a counter leg kick but Naranbaatar steps away.
Luzhin looks to throw the jab but Naranbaatar is out of range.
It appears Naranbaatar was looking to counter with a kick there.
Luzhin looks to score with a jab to the body but Naranbaatar is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Naranbaatar avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Naranbaatar.
Luzhin keeps Naranbaatar at a distance using the push kick.
Luzhin avoids a kick to the body.
Naranbaatar scores with a punch to the head.
Good shot there by Luzhin.
Luzhin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Naranbaatar misses with a hook. Luzhin ducked under it nicely.
A big left from Luzhin misses.
Naranbaatar moves out of range of the body kick.
Luzhin connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Naranbaatar keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Luzhin takes a swing at Naranbaatar's ribcage but misses.
Naranbaatar misses with a wild body shot.
Luzhin moves away from the strike by Naranbaatar.
Luzhin throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naranbaatar lands a jab to the head.
A thudding body kick lands there by Luzhin!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Luzhin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Naranbaatar moves away.
Naranbaatar moves out of range of the strikes.
Luzhin moves out of range as Naranbaatar strikes.
Naranbaatar scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Luzhin on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Naranbaatar. Naranbaatar obviously looking to wear him down.
Luzhin jabs Naranbaatar to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Luzhin takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Luzhin throws the kick towards the body but Naranbaatar avoids it.
Naranbaatar half committed to a counter leg kick.
Naranbaatar will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Naranbaatar ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Luzhin moves away.

Naranbaatar gets a takedown into half guard.
Luzhin is refusing to be controlled, as Naranbaatar sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naranbaatar is stalling here. Luzhin is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Naranbaatar seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Luzhin has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Naranbaatar gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Luzhin is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Naranbaatar!
Naranbaatar is looking to improve his position but Luzhin isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Naranbaatar is just holding on here. Luzhin manages to take his back.
Luzhin trying to control.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Luzhin controlling the positon.
Naranbaatar trying to control the action but Luzhin just sinks the hooks in.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Nikolai Luzhin will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Naranbaatar misses with an attempted mid kick.
Naranbaatar blocks a leg kick.
Naranbaatar connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Luzhin scores with a spinning back kick!
Naranbaatar misses with a body shot.
Luzhin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Naranbaatar throws a quick inside leg kick.
Naranbaatar swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Luzhin on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Naranbaatar. Naranbaatar obviously looking to wear him down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A chopping leg kick lands by Naranbaatar.
Luzhin's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Naranbaatar cracks Luzhin with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Naranbaatar with a hook.
Jab by Naranbaatar.
Naranbaatar misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luzhin keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Naranbaatar comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Good standup being displayed there by Luzhin as he connects with a hook.
Luzhin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Naranbaatar manages to avoid it.
Naranbaatar looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Naranbaatar misses with a jab, cross combination.
Naranbaatar throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Luzhin stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Naranbaatar throws a body kick that misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Luzhin. Naranbaatar does a little dance to reset his feet.
Luzhin throws the kick towards the body but Naranbaatar avoids it.
Luzhin cracks Naranbaatar with a good jab.
Luzhin throws a body kick that misses.
A nice leg kick lands there from Luzhin.
Naranbaatar takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Luzhin looks for the body kick but Naranbaatar saw that one coming.
A slow jab from Naranbaatar misses its intended target.
Naranbaatar lands a nice looking body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Naranbaatar lands a right hook to the body.
Luzhin ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Luzhin looks to score with a jab to the body but Naranbaatar is just out of range.
Luzhin misses the shot to the body.
Tarkhan Naranbaatar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Naranbaatar shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Luzhin eats them both and turns towards Naranbaatar to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Naranbaatar fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Naranbaatar throws a head kick that Luzhin semi-blocks.
Naranbaatar misses the jab.
A nice side step and Luzhin releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Luzhin moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Luzhin.
Naranbaatar shoots in and drives through. Luzhin sprawls well.
Luzhin tries to land a front kick but Naranbaatar steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Naranbaatar avoids the body shot from Luzhin.
Naranbaatar throws a leg kick but Luzhin sees it coming and moves out of range.
A countering left hand to the body from Luzhin misses.
Luzhin thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Naranbaatar if he has to take too many more of those.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Luzhin there.
Naranbaatar is looking to chop away at Luzhin's legs.
Luzhin avoids the body shot from Naranbaatar.
Luzhin lands a nice hook to Naranbaatar's body. Naranbaatar takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Luzhin sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Naranbaatar moves out of range of the body kick from Luzhin.
Nice body punch from Naranbaatar.
Nikolai Luzhin is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Luzhin throws a front kick that sends Naranbaatar stumbling back into the cage.
Naranbaatar misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Luzhin.
Naranbaatar misses with a body punch
letting Luzhin counter with a right hand.
Luzhin ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Luzhin scores with a head kick. Naranbaatar tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Naranbaatar looks to land a right hand but Luzhin moved out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Naranbaatar takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luzhin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Naranbaatar.
Naranbaatar throws a good cross that connects.
Luzhin checks a low kick from Naranbaatar.
A shot to the body from Naranbaatar misses
and Luzhin counters with a solid body kick.
Naranbaatar attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Naranbaatar throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Luzhin takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Luzhin getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Naranbaatar throws a big shot that misses.
Luzhin bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Naranbaatar's head.
Naranbaatar looks for the body kick but Luzhin saw that one coming.
Luzhin dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Luzhin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Naranbaatar.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Naranbaatar lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Luzhin has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Luzhin and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
The fighters circling - Luzhin throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Nikolai Luzhin.
Well Luzhin 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 28:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Nikolai Luzhin!
A less than humble Nikolai Luzhin misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.