PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Khabib Nurmagomedov (ranked 4404 p4p, 3811 weight class) and Mike Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 396 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Nurmagomedov
vs
Smith

175 cm
25
165
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
155
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Khabib Nurmagomedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Smith!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Wesley Smith and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nurmagomedov fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Nurmagomedov slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Nurmagomedov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A slow jab from Nurmagomedov misses its intended target.
Smith tries to counter with a clinch but Nurmagomedov shakes him off and moves away.
Smith walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Smith throws a head kick but Nurmagomedov moves out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Nurmagomedov. Those never looked like landing.
Nurmagomedov scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmagomedov throws a body punch but Smith moves out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Smith.
Nurmagomedov swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov throws a body shot but no joy.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Nurmagomedov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
It looked like Nurmagomedov was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Smith.
Nurmagomedov throws a one two combo.
Nurmagomedov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nurmagomedov is looking to counter punch.
Smith bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Smith darts in looking for a takedown but Nurmagomedov gets double underhooks and turns Smith into the cage.
Smith moves away from the strike by Nurmagomedov.

Smith rushes Nurmagomedov and presses him up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to land knees to the body.
Smith drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Smith misses with some punches.
Nurmagomedov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nurmagomedov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Nurmagomedov leaning against his opponent.
Nurmagomedov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Smith's elbow.
Nurmagomedov is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov throws a head punch that misses.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but Nurmagomedov blocks with his arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Nurmagomedov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Khabib Nurmagomedov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Smith.

Smith's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Smith steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nurmagomedov.

Smith drives through and clinches with Nurmagomedov against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Nurmagomedov.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Nurmagomedov throws a punch but it's blocked by Smith.
Nurmagomedov managing to block the knees to the body from Smith.
Nurmagomedov throws a head punch that misses.
Nurmagomedov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Nurmagomedov will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Smith up against the cage.
Nurmagomedov tries to work over Smith's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov blocks an elbow strike.

Nurmagomedov manages to break the clinch.
Nurmagomedov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smith ducks under a wild hook from Nurmagomedov.
Smith looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Smith moves out of range as Nurmagomedov strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith slips under a jab.
Smith looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Smith throws a right and a left that both miss.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Khabib Nurmagomedov dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Smith is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nurmagomedov throws out a powerful jab.
Nurmagomedov throws the left hand but Smith avoids the punch easily.
Mike Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nurmagomedov fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Smith looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith tries to clinch there but Nurmagomedov circles away.
Mike Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nurmagomedov lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Nurmagomedov scores with a sloppy right hand. Smith should have avoided that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith doesn't manage to clinch there - Nurmagomedov circles away.
Nurmagomedov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nurmagomedov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Nurmagomedov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
A swing and a miss from Nurmagomedov.
Smith takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Nurmagomedov looks to land a left hand but Smith moved out of range nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith goes for a double leg but Nurmagomedov avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Nurmagomedov continues to drive forward.
Nurmagomedov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nurmagomedov moves away from the strike by Smith.
Nurmagomedov throwing a counter right hand but Smith manages to avoid it.
Nurmagomedov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith moves away.
Smith with the counter takedown but Nurmagomedov avoids it easily.
Nurmagomedov swings for the body but Smith moves out of range.

Nurmagomedov tries to keep at a distance but Smith has taken the fight into the clinch.
Smith blocking some punches.
Nurmagomedov managing to block the knees to the body from Smith.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov stalling against the cage.
Nurmagomedov can't break the clinch.

Smith breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smith tries to clinch there but Nurmagomedov circles away.
Smith ducks under a wild hook from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov throws a body shot but no joy.
Nurmagomedov throws a lazy right hand but Smith sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Smith throws a hook to the side of Nurmagomedov's head but Nurmagomedov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nurmagomedov throws a big counter combination but Smith scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Smith moves out of range of the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov throws out a loose jab but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smith tries to clinch there but Nurmagomedov circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nurmagomedov. Smith does a little dance to reset his feet.
Smith needs to keep his hands up - Nurmagomedov had a free shot at his head there.
Nurmagomedov takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Nurmagomedov is looking to counter punch.
Nurmagomedov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Smith unleashes a big counter combination but Nurmagomedov bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A big right from Nurmagomedov misses.
Nurmagomedov fails to land with a series of punches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Khabib Nurmagomedov dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Smith throws a right hand that Nurmagomedov ducks under and follows up with a left that Nurmagomedov also avoids with ease.
Nurmagomedov appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Nurmagomedov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Smith moves in looking to clinch but Nurmagomedov pushes him off.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nurmagomedov. Smith does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nurmagomedov circles away from the clinch attempt
and Nurmagomedov counters with a series of strikes. Smith will be more careful next time no doubt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nurmagomedov lands with a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith slips under a jab.
Smith looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nurmagomedov went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Smith steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nurmagomedov.
Smith takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Smith misses with a head kick.
Nurmagomedov is looking to counter punch.
Khabib Nurmagomedov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nurmagomedov throws a sloppy body shot

and Smith counters by clinching up.
Nurmagomedov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Smith can do to turn this around?
Smith using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nurmagomedov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nurmagomedov misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith jumps guard and drags Nurmagomedov to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Nurmagomedov with a nice head shot there.
Smith working a defensive guard here.
Nurmagomedov is in close to Smith's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Nurmagomedov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Smith on the ground.
Nurmagomedov works over Smith with some ground and pound from guard.
Nurmagomedov trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Nurmagomedov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov connects with a couple of short punches.
Smith trying to keep a closed guard but Nurmagomedov is proving a slippery customer.
Nurmagomedov trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Nurmagomedov throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smith takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Some wild striking there from Smith.
It looked like Nurmagomedov wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Khabib Nurmagomedov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nurmagomedov misses with a few strikes there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smith tries to bum rush Nurmagomedov with a series of wild strikes but Nurmagomedov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mike Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nurmagomedov misses the shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Khabib 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27

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