PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Drako Ruler (ranked 4410 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Nurmagomedov (ranked 4417 p4p, 0 weight class). Tony Nurmagomedov told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Ruler
vs
Nurmagomedov

196 cm
22
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
190 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Drako Ruler !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tony Nurmagomedov!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Viktor Lagutenko and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nurmagomedov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nurmagomedov tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Good exchange - Ruler coming out on top.
Nurmagomedov slips a jab from Ruler .
Ruler scores with a nice strike.
Nurmagomedov slips under a jab.
Nurmagomedov with the counter takedown but Ruler avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmagomedov scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A jab lands there for Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Nurmagomedov throws a right hand that Ruler ducks under and follows up with a left that Ruler also avoids with ease.
Ruler lands a jab to the head.
Ruler uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nurmagomedov.
Ruler was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Ruler displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nurmagomedov throws out the jab.
Ruler scores with a jab to the jaw.
Ruler looks to land a left hand but Nurmagomedov moved out of range nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Ruler to score with a decent uppercut.
Ruler tests Nurmagomedov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nurmagomedov takes one to the chin there.
Ruler throws a body punch but Nurmagomedov moves out of range.
The crowd cheers as Ruler lands an impressive looking overhand right. Nurmagomedov doesn't seem phased though.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nurmagomedov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ruler manages to avoid it.
Ruler appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Ruler is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruler swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nurmagomedov scores with a hook to the body. Ruler takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Nurmagomedov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ruler was well out of range. Poor timing from Nurmagomedov.
It looked like Ruler wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Ruler is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Nurmagomedov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ruler swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Nurmagomedov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nurmagomedov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A little feinted left hand from Ruler on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Ruler swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nurmagomedov tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ruler lands a jab to the nose.
A telegraphed right hand from Ruler misses the target.
Nurmagomedov slips a jab and a cross from Ruler .
Ruler tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nurmagomedov was well out of range. Poor timing from Ruler .
And Nurmagomedov tries to counter it with a takedown but Ruler pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Ruler works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
A telegraphed right hand from Nurmagomedov misses the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Drako Ruler dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ruler throws a jab when Nurmagomedov was well out of range.
Nurmagomedov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
It looked like Ruler wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
A combination from Nurmagomedov does no damage.
Ruler misses the jab.
Nurmagomedov is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Ruler tries to bum rush Nurmagomedov with a series of wild strikes but Nurmagomedov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmagomedov fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Ruler misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruler lands a jab.
Nurmagomedov moves away from the strike by Ruler .
Tony Nurmagomedov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ruler waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov with the counter takedown but Ruler avoids it easily.
Ruler misses with a straight right.
Nurmagomedov is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Nurmagomedov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nurmagomedov pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Ruler back to the cage. Nurmagomedov follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Nurmagomedov works Ruler 's body with a nice hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruler jabs at Nurmagomedov's body.
Nurmagomedov just misses with a punch to the body.
Ruler has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Nurmagomedov finds it's way round the side to connect with Ruler 's head.
Ruler is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Nurmagomedov.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Ruler , as that shot connected.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nurmagomedov looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Nurmagomedov throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Ruler stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Drako Ruler is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruler stuns Nurmagomedov with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Nurmagomedov is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Ruler rather than just go for the knockout.
Nurmagomedov throws a big shot that misses.
Nurmagomedov throws a hook but Ruler avoids it easily.
Ruler pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nurmagomedov slips under a jab from Ruler .
Nurmagomedov throws a lazy right hand but Ruler sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Some wild striking there from Nurmagomedov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Nurmagomedov. Those never looked like landing.
Ruler swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Nurmagomedov blocks a jab.
Ruler has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Nurmagomedov cracks a nice hook into Ruler 's ribs.
Ruler misses with a hook. Nurmagomedov ducked under it nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Donk. Nurmagomedov catches Ruler right on the button with a cross.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nurmagomedov misses with a combination
and Nurmagomedov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nurmagomedov misses with a hook
and Ruler counters with a stiff right hand.
Nurmagomedov throws a right and a left that Ruler avoids nicely.
Ruler misses with an uppercut. Nurmagomedov saw that one coming.
Drako Ruler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A swing and a miss from Ruler .
Good shot there by Ruler .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Nurmagomedov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nurmagomedov with the counter takedown but Ruler avoids it easily.
Ruler throws a hook but Nurmagomedov avoids it easily.
Ruler jabbing away but nothing is landing.
No joy there for Nurmagomedov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ruler throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Nurmagomedov on the side of the head.
Ruler is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nurmagomedov can do to turn this around?
Nurmagomedov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Nurmagomedov. Those never looked like landing.
Ruler throws a shot from downtown. Nurmagomedov moves away and avoids it.
Nurmagomedov changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
A telegraphed right hand from Ruler misses the target.
Ruler uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nurmagomedov.
A little feinted left hand from Ruler on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Ruler takes one on the button.
A decent looking cross lands there for Nurmagomedov.
Ruler lands a jab to the nose.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov throws out a powerful jab.
Ruler closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Ruler on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Nurmagomedov goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Ruler cracks a nice hook into Nurmagomedov's ribs.
Ruler throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nurmagomedov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Tony Nurmagomedov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruler throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nurmagomedov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nurmagomedov feints the counter takedown.
A big right from Ruler misses.
Nurmagomedov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nurmagomedov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ruler sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A punch combination from Nurmagomedov misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A combination from Nurmagomedov does no damage.
Ruler throws a hook to the side of Nurmagomedov's head but Nurmagomedov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Drako Ruler .
Well Ruler has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight for Drako Ruler !
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight for Drako Ruler !
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight for Drako Ruler !

Drako Ruler wins by unanimous decision!
Tony Nurmagomedov was interviewed post fight and said 'Hahaha as you all saw i let my opponent win. This was a work.'.