PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Erwin Holt (ranked 7841 p4p, 0 weight class) and Khatib Nurmagomedow (ranked 4315 p4p, 0 weight class). Khatib Nurmagomedow will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Holt
vs
Nurmagomedow

154 cm
25
162 lbs
2 - 2 - 1

175 cm
25
154 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Prefers standup

Good wrestler
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Erwin Holt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Khatib Nurmagomedow!
The judges for this bout are Ben Hemmingworth, Winston Howard and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Holt rushes Nurmagomedow and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Holt has clasped his hands together around Nurmagomedow's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nurmagomedow can do anything to dispel that myth.
Holt sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Nurmagomedow is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Holt could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Holt tries for a kimura but Nurmagomedow is defending well.

Holt is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Nurmagomedow is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Nurmagomedow tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Holt presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Holt has control of Nurmagomedow's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Nurmagomedow regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Holt jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Nurmagomedow is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Nurmagomedow and Holt has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Holt is looking to take a break and control but Nurmagomedow is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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

Nurmagomedow throws Holt to one side and escapes!
Khatib Nurmagomedow seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Nurmagomedow shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Holt manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Holt is wriggling around but Nurmagomedow manages to pass to half guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nurmagomedow is working for a kimura but Holt is defending it quite comfortably.
Nurmagomedow looks winded!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Holt is trying to stand back up but Nurmagomedow is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedow missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Holt is looking to get back to is feet but Nurmagomedow passes into side control.
Holt can't do much from the bottom here.
Holt wants to get back to his feet but Nurmagomedow drags him back down.
Who's going to make the next move?
Sloppy strikes there by Nurmagomedow.
We've been informed that Nurmagomedow has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Holt wants to control but Nurmagomedow postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nurmagomedow working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Holt bucks up and tries to throw Nurmagomedow off but instead Nurmagomedow has got his back!
Even with his hooks in, Nurmagomedow manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Nurmagomedow misses with punches from the back.
Holt is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Nurmagomedow is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Nurmagomedow gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Nurmagomedow gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Nurmagomedow apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Erwin Holt is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Holt gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Nurmagomedow to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nurmagomedow postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khatib Nurmagomedow dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Holt gets caught napping as Nurmagomedow dives in and scores a takedown. Holt manages to retain guard.
Nurmagomedow wants to pass the guard but Holt is keeping the position.
Nurmagomedow is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Holt has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nurmagomedow can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Holt controls Nurmagomedow momentarily but Nurmagomedow frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holt is really struggling to control Nurmagomedow but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Nurmagomedow seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Holt knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nurmagomedow on the ground.
Nurmagomedow is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holt wants to stand and escape but Nurmagomedow is having none of it.
Nurmagomedow stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Holt swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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

Holt gets caught napping as Nurmagomedow dives in and scores a takedown. Holt manages to retain guard.
Holt trying to keep a closed guard but Nurmagomedow is proving a slippery customer.
Nurmagomedow won't allow Holt to get back to his feet.

Holt looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Nurmagomedow controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nurmagomedow drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nurmagomedow jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nurmagomedow showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Holt pushes Nurmagomedow off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holt moves into the clinch.
Holt wants to break the clinch but can't.
Holt taking a breather.

Holt escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Nurmagomedow shoots in and bounces Holt off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Nurmagomedow pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Holt is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holt wants to get back to his feet but Nurmagomedow passes into half guard.
Holt keeping hold of Nurmagomedow's head, controlling as best he can.
Holt is trying to stand back up but Nurmagomedow is controlling him
Holt trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nurmagomedow is pressing down on Holt's thigh, looking to free his foot. Holt is holding on for now.
Holt is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khatib Nurmagomedow showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Holt's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Nurmagomedow dives in and scores a takedown into Holt's guard.
Holt looking to control.
Nurmagomedow is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Holt looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Nurmagomedow passes into side control.
Holt struggling a bit here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holt is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Nurmagomedow has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Nurmagomedow takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Nurmagomedow is trying to get an arm triangle but Holt is defending well.
Nurmagomedow moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedow tries to move to mount but Holt blocks the move with his legs.
Holt can't do much from the bottom here.
Holt is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Nurmagomedow asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Nurmagomedow has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nurmagomedow trying to control the position but Holt is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Nurmagomedow taking a breather here.
Holt is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Nurmagomedow is controlling him well.
Nurmagomedow is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Holt instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holt pulls guard successfully.
Holt wants to stand and escape but Nurmagomedow is having none of it.
Nurmagomedow content to stall in guard here.
Nurmagomedow working some strikes from top position.
Holt is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Nurmagomedow is controlling him.
Nurmagomedow is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Nurmagomedow pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Holt is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Holt keeping moving, preventing Nurmagomedow from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Nurmagomedow shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Holt napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Holt is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Nurmagomedow is controlling him well.
Holt tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nurmagomedow wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nurmagomedow is staying tight to Holt's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Erwin Holt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Khatib Nurmagomedow is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

And that's the end of the fight!
Khatib Nurmagomedow comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nurmagomedow winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Khatib Nurmagomedow!