PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight kickboxing rules bout between Khalamedov Nurmagabeeb (ranked 2702 p4p, 321 weight class) and Anton Kruglov (ranked 3304 p4p, 368 weight class). Nurmagabeeb comes into the arena with Sabine Kors feat. Timaro - Dagestan (Remix) blaring out of the sound system. Anton Kruglov will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Nurmagabeeb
vs
Kruglov

178 cm
31
163 lbs
10 - 12 - 1

171 cm
34
184 lbs
25 - 17 - 2

Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

World class MT
Good gas tank

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 10 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Khalamedov Nurmagabeeb!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 17 - 2, fighting out of St Petersburg, Anton Kruglov!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Leandro Rodrigues and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nurmagabeeb looks to score with a jab to the body but Kruglov is just out of range.
Kruglov throws a hook but Nurmagabeeb blocks it.
Nurmagabeeb was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Kruglov misses with a hook to the body
and Nurmagabeeb makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Kruglov scores with a nice strike.
Nurmagabeeb comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Nurmagabeeb rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kruglov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kruglov loads up on a big right hand but Nurmagabeeb slips the punch.
Nurmagabeeb swinging wildly here.

Kruglov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Nurmagabeeb softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Kruglov prevents a body shot from Nurmagabeeb.
Kruglov gets through Nurmagabeeb's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Nurmagabeeb tries to stall but Kruglov uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Kruglov swings wildly with an uppercut but Nurmagabeeb uses good head movement to avoid it.
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!
Nurmagabeeb looking to throw knees to the head but Kruglov is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruglov tries to land knees in the clinch but Nurmagabeeb avoids the damage to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kruglov.
A short right from Kruglov.
Kruglov trying to stall but Nurmagabeeb improves his position.
Kruglov lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kruglov.

It looks like Khalamedov Nurmagabeeb has been cut.
Nurmagabeeb misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kruglov is leaning against Nurmagabeeb and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Kruglov trying to stall but Nurmagabeeb improves his position.
A head punch on the inside from Nurmagabeeb fails to land.
Kruglov blocks a body shot from Nurmagabeeb.
Kruglov lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Nurmagabeeb.
Kruglov trying to land knees to the body.
Nurmagabeeb using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kruglov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kruglov lands a left hand.
Nurmagabeeb stalling the fight.
Kruglov will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Nurmagabeeb up against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kruglov lands a nice uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kruglov looking to throw knees to the head but Nurmagabeeb is blocking nicely.
Kruglov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kruglov misses with some punches.
Nurmagabeeb tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kruglov's elbow.
Nurmagabeeb taking a breather.
Kruglov misses with a knee strike.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Nurmagabeeb just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kruglov's brow.
Kruglov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kruglov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nurmagabeeb misses with an elbow over the top.
Nurmagabeeb tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nurmagabeeb wants to stall.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kruglov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anton Kruglov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Khalamedov Nurmagabeeb's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nurmagabeeb fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A punch lands to the side of Nurmagabeeb 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Kruglov takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Kruglov tries to clinch but Nurmagabeeb is having none of it.
Kruglov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kruglov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nurmagabeeb swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nurmagabeeb swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Kruglov misses with an uppercut.
Nurmagabeeb is looking to counter punch.
Nurmagabeeb will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nurmagabeeb backing away here, and Kruglov unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Nurmagabeeb throws a body punch but Kruglov moves out of range.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kruglov.
Nurmagabeeb takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kruglov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nurmagabeeb shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Nurmagabeeb misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruglov tries to clinch but Nurmagabeeb moves out of range.
Nurmagabeeb gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Kruglov tries to clinch but Nurmagabeeb is having none of it.
Kruglov doesn't manage to clinch there - Nurmagabeeb circles away.
A swing and a miss from Kruglov.
An attempted straight right counter from Nurmagabeeb misses the target.
Kruglov thuds his shin into the meat of Nurmagabeeb's side.
Kruglov throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Nurmagabeeb.
Nurmagabeeb swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nurmagabeeb defending well as Kruglov loads up on a big left hand.
Nurmagabeeb displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Nurmagabeeb uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kruglov.
Nurmagabeeb scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Khalamedov Nurmagabeeb is winning the standup battle so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kruglov moves out of range as Nurmagabeeb strikes.
Kruglov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kruglov throws a leg kick that misses.
Kruglov uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Nurmagabeeb has time to react.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kruglov uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Nurmagabeeb takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Nurmagabeeb tries to keep at a distance but Kruglov has taken the fight into the clinch.
Nurmagabeeb misses with the head strike.
Nurmagabeeb struggles to land a body shot inside as Kruglov controls his hands.
Nurmagabeeb misses with a body punch.
Kruglov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kruglov trying to land knees to the body.
Kruglov is trying to stall.
Nurmagabeeb misses with an elbow strike.
A head punch on the inside from Kruglov fails to land.
Kruglov cracks Nurmagabeeb with a nice body shot.
Kruglov utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Nurmagabeeb with an attempt at a knee that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anton Kruglov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Khalamedov Nurmagabeeb's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Nurmagabeeb misses the jab.
Kruglov throws out a loose jab but Nurmagabeeb uses good head movement to avoid it.
A counter left hand to the body from Nurmagabeeb misses its target.

Kruglov moves into the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Kruglov fails to land.
Nurmagabeeb takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kruglov lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Nurmagabeeb misses with a knee strike.
Kruglov lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Nurmagabeeb backwards.
Nurmagabeeb is trying to maintain a safe position but Kruglov gets an underhook and turns Nurmagabeeb into the ropes.
Nurmagabeeb pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Nurmagabeeb is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The crowd are calling 'kneeees!' as Kruglov has the Thai clinch. Kruglov obliges, smashing a knee brutally into Nurmagabeeb's nose and sending him crashing to the canvas! Will be beat the count?! 3,4,5,6,7,8...9... and he's up on 9! Wow, that was close! The referee takes a long look and is going to allow it to continue!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kruglov doesn't manage to clinch there - Nurmagabeeb circles away.
Nurmagabeeb swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Nurmagabeeb on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Kruglov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nurmagabeeb.
Nurmagabeeb ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nurmagabeeb was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Anton Kruglov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruglov avoids a punch combination nicely.
A combination from Nurmagabeeb does no damage.
Kruglov listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Kruglov wants to clinch
and Kruglov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nurmagabeeb takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Khalamedov Nurmagabeeb's cut is getting worse.
Nurmagabeeb slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Kruglov thuds his right hand into Nurmagabeeb's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Kruglov throws a switch kick that catches Nurmagabeeb on the top of the head and drops him to the canvas! Nurmagabeeb looks hurt - I'm not sure he's going to get back up! The referee starts the count but calls it off at seven as Nurmagabeeb flops around on the canvas, clearly in no position to continue! This fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Head Kick). Anton Kruglov!
During a confident post fight interview, Anton Kruglov thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
In defeat, Khalamedov Nurmagabeeb stepped up to the mic, saying 'Even though I didn't win, training made me stronger. It was a good fight from a good opponent. I'll be back, though!'.