PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Japa Koniu (ranked 795 p4p, 32 weight class) and Diyorbek Nurudinov (ranked 1347 p4p, 71 weight class). Japa Koniu has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Koniu
vs
Nurudinov

198 cm
31
235 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

195 cm
24
270 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

Decent wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Sportivité

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Japa Koniu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Diyorbek Nurudinov!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nurudinov slips a jab and a cross from Koniu.
Japa Koniu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Koniu throws a good cross that connects.
Koniu tests Nurudinov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nurudinov blocks a low kick nicely.
Nurudinov tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Koniu throws a hook but Nurudinov blocks it.
Nurudinov throws a right hand that misses
and Koniu counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Koniu explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Koniu throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Nurudinov.
A chopping leg kick lands by Koniu.
Koniu lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nurudinov avoids the body shot from Koniu.

Koniu throws a left that rocks Nurudinov and follows with a right that sends him tumbling to the canvas! Koniu dives into side control, looking to finish! Can Nurudinov regain composure!

It looks like Diyorbek Nurudinov has been cut.

Koniu decides to stand up, so the ref orders Nurudinov to his feet.
A big right from Koniu misses.
Nurudinov tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koniu throws a series of punches but Nurudinov moves out of range.
Koniu throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Nurudinov.
Koniu connects with a nice looking jab.

Nurudinov is rocked!

Nurudinov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Koniu throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Nurudinov throws an overhand right that lands on Koniu's shoulder, as Koniu tries to avoid the shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nurudinov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Koniu with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Koniu lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Good leg kick by Koniu there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Nurudinov moves to clinch but Koniu breaks away
enabling Koniu to counter with a crisp jab.
Koniu throws a looping overhand right but Nurudinov ducks down to avoid it.
Nurudinov drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Koniu defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nurudinov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Nurudinov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Koniu is trying to get back to his feet.
Nurudinov landing a few strikes.

It looks like Japa Koniu has been cut.
Koniu pushes Nurudinov away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Nurudinov gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Koniu takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Koniu is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Nurudinov asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Koniu takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Japa Koniu's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.

Nurudinov stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Koniu fakes the leg kick and cracks Nurudinov in the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Nurudinov.
Nurudinov tries to clinch up.
Nurudinov takes one on the button.
Nurudinov checks the leg kick.
A lazy left from Koniu finds it's target.
Koniu keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Koniu displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nurudinov.
Nurudinov scores with a sloppy right hand. Koniu should have avoided that one.

Jeez, Japa Koniu's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Nurudinov blocks a jab.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nurudinov.
Japa Koniu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Diyorbek Nurudinov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koniu slips under a jab from Nurudinov.
It looks like Koniu has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Koniu throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Nurudinov counters with a single leg into guard. Koniu didn't expect that.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Koniu manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A short right from Koniu on the inside.
Koniu is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Koniu misses with some punches.

Nurudinov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Koniu throws a hook but Nurudinov avoids it easily.
Koniu connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Koniu fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Nurudinov.
Koniu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Koniu tries to land a front kick but Nurudinov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Koniu walks into a jab.
Nurudinov blocks a head kick by Koniu.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Japa Koniu dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nurudinov pushes Koniu up against the cage in a clinch.
Nurudinov working aggressively here.
Nurudinov is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Koniu pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Koniu breaks the clinch.
Koniu throws out a loose jab but Nurudinov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Koniu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nurudinov throws the left hand but Koniu avoids the punch easily.
Nurudinov ducks under a wild hook from Koniu.
Koniu misses with a double jab.
Nurudinov tries to clinch but Koniu is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurudinov bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Koniu's head.
A slapping body kick lands there for Koniu.
Koniu is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Good shot there by Koniu.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Koniu!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurudinov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Koniu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Koniu throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Koniu throws a poor cross that misses

and Nurudinov counters with a single leg into guard. Koniu didn't expect that.

Koniu uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Koniu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Koniu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nurudinov can do to turn this around?
Koniu does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

Nurudinov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Nurudinov misses with some punches.

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

Nurudinov drives through with a takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Koniu kicks Nurudinov off and gets to his feet.
Koniu keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Nurudinov.
Nurudinov on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Japa Koniu is winning the standup battle so far.
Koniu tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A solid body kick from Koniu.
Japa Koniu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Koniu connects with a good right hand that stumbles Nurudinov. Nurudinov circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Nurudinov uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Koniu misses with a straight right.
Koniu misses with a hook.
Nice defenses there by Koniu.
No luck for Nurudinov with that takedown attempt.
Nurudinov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Koniu swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Koniu cracks Nurudinov with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Nurudinov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Koniu.
Nurudinov tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koniu misses with a body shot.
Japa Koniu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Koniu misses with a kick to the body.
And Nurudinov tries to counter it with a takedown but Koniu pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Koniu with a hook.
Nurudinov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nurudinov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Koniu throws out the jab.

Nurudinov shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Koniu manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Nurudinov chips away with some ground and pound.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Japa Koniu's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Diyorbek Nurudinov!