PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Islam Nurmagomedov (ranked 6248 p4p, 2478 weight class) and Chad Mendoza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Islam Nurmagomedov has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Nurmagomedov
vs
Mendoza

175 cm
25
155
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
150
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Prefers standup

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

The Dirty Needle Project (Proven 160Q @ $160)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Islam Nurmagomedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Chad Mendoza!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Paul Tew and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nurmagomedov bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Mendoza's head.
Nurmagomedov has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
No joy there for Nurmagomedov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nurmagomedov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Mendoza drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Nurmagomedov defends it well.
Islam Nurmagomedov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A combination from Nurmagomedov does no damage.
Mendoza with the counter takedown but Nurmagomedov avoids it easily.
Nurmagomedov scores with a punch to the head.
Nurmagomedov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmagomedov throws a series of punches but Mendoza moves out of range.
Mendoza changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Nurmagomedov looks to land a combination but Mendoza avoids it well.
Mendoza is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Mendoza shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov lands a glancing blow to the side of Mendoza's head.
Mendoza has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Mendoza there as he acknowledges the shot.
Mendoza has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Mendoza there as he acknowledges the shot.
Nurmagomedov misses with an uppercut.
Mendoza tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Nurmagomedov misses with a double jab.
Mendoza with the counter takedown but Nurmagomedov avoids it easily.
Nurmagomedov throws a series of punches but Mendoza avoids them all with ease.
Mendoza with the counter takedown but Nurmagomedov avoids it easily.
Nurmagomedov works Mendoza's body with a nice hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza dodges the punch combination from Nurmagomedov.
Mendoza with the counter takedown but Nurmagomedov avoids it easily.
Nurmagomedov misses with a wild combination.
Mendoza changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Nurmagomedov throws a combination. Mendoza tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nurmagomedov throws a good cross that connects.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nurmagomedov looks to land a combination but Mendoza avoids it well.
Nurmagomedov swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Mendoza.
Nurmagomedov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nurmagomedov throws a right and a left that Mendoza avoids nicely.
Mendoza is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Nurmagomedov scores with a jab to the jaw.
Nurmagomedov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Mendoza counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Mendoza trying to control but Nurmagomedov is working from the bottom.

Mendoza thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Mendoza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nurmagomedov is keeping the position for now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mendoza is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Mendoza wants to control from the top but Nurmagomedov keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Islam Nurmagomedov dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nurmagomedov goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
The fighters circling - Nurmagomedov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mendoza feints the counter takedown.
A slow jab from Nurmagomedov misses its intended target.
Nurmagomedov thows a left - swing and a miss!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmagomedov misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov misses with a double jab.
Nurmagomedov lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Mendoza on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Nurmagomedov throws a series of punches but Mendoza moves out of range.
Nurmagomedov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mendoza moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mendoza is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Nurmagomedov tries to bum rush Mendoza with a series of wild strikes but Mendoza uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
And Mendoza tries to counter it with a takedown but Nurmagomedov pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Nurmagomedov swinging wildly here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov throws a combination that misses

and Mendoza counters with a nice double leg into side control. Nurmagomedov won't be happy with that.
Nurmagomedov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mendoza on the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Mendoza is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Nurmagomedov has escaped the position, nice work there.
Mendoza in side control, throwing shots but Nurmagomedov defends.
Nurmagomedov being controlled for a moment.
Mendoza is putting a hurting on Nurmagomedov here, landing some big shots from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov is not content to let Mendoza control the position.

Mendoza is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Nurmagomedov has escaped the position, nice work there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
An elbow from Mendoza crashes against the mat.
Mendoza trying to control the position but Nurmagomedov is working away.
Mendoza throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Mendoza in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Mendoza has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nurmagomedov is not content to let Mendoza control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza happy to just control the position for now.
Mendoza wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nurmagomedov keeps working.
My spies in London MMA Club inform me that Mendoza has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nurmagomedov tries to escape but Mendoza is in control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Islam Nurmagomedov will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Nurmagomedov lands with a nice body punch.
Nurmagomedov throws a right and a left that both miss.
And Mendoza tries to counter it with a takedown but Nurmagomedov pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Sloppy strikes from Nurmagomedov. Those never looked like landing.
Nurmagomedov is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Nurmagomedov scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Nurmagomedov looks to land a combination. Mendoza sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmagomedov throws a hook but Mendoza blocks it.
Mendoza is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Nurmagomedov throws a nice looking combination but Mendoza bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mendoza feints the counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendoza is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Nurmagomedov looks to land a combination but Mendoza avoids it well.
Mendoza with the counter takedown but Nurmagomedov avoids it easily.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Nurmagomedov, as that shot connected.
Nurmagomedov looks to score with a jab to the body but Mendoza is just out of range.
Mendoza with the counter takedown but Nurmagomedov avoids it easily.
Islam Nurmagomedov is winning the standup battle so far.
Nurmagomedov throws a series of punches but Mendoza moves out of range.
Mendoza changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Nurmagomedov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mendoza.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Nurmagomedov throws a right and a left that Mendoza avoids nicely.
Mendoza feints the counter takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A left and a right from Nurmagomedov both land. Nice combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nurmagomedov misses with a two punch combination.
Mendoza slips a jab from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov tries to bum rush Mendoza with a series of wild strikes but Mendoza uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mendoza changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Mendoza avoids the body shot from Nurmagomedov.
Mendoza feints the counter takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov lands a jab-cross combination.
Nurmagomedov misses with a combination

so Mendoza counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Mendoza engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Nurmagomedov keeping moving, preventing Mendoza from controlling successfully.
Mendoza postures up and lands a big shot to Nurmagomedov's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Mendoza trying to control the position but Nurmagomedov is working away.
Nurmagomedov takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Mendoza trying to control the action but Nurmagomedov is working from the bottom.

Mendoza looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mendoza cracks Nurmagomedov with an elbow. That is naaassty.

And that's the end of the fight!
Islam Nurmagomedov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nurmagomedov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Islam Nurmagomedov!