PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Miroslav Nurmagomedov (ranked 24544 p4p, 6269 weight class) and Joopu Bizo (ranked 658 p4p, 617 weight class). Joopu Bizo will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Nurmagomedov
vs
Bizo

178 cm
21
155
0 - 5 - 0

178 cm
19
155
1 - 1 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Miroslav Nurmagomedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Joopu Bizo!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Frank Dennis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nurmagomedov fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Nurmagomedov throws a head kick but Bizo moves out of range.
Nurmagomedov slips a jab and a cross from Bizo.
Some wild striking there from Nurmagomedov.
Bizo has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Bizo loads up on a big right hand but Nurmagomedov slips the punch.
We've been hearing reports that Nurmagomedov has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Bizo pivots, looking for a leg kick but Nurmagomedov is out of range and Bizo settles back down.
Nurmagomedov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nurmagomedov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bizo.
Nurmagomedov changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Nurmagomedov throws a right and a left that Bizo avoids nicely.
Nurmagomedov misses with a series of wild punches.
Nurmagomedov misses with the combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nurmagomedov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Nurmagomedov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sloppy strikes from Bizo. Those never looked like landing.
Nurmagomedov misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bizo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nurmagomedov misses with a wild combination.
Bizo closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Some wild striking there from Bizo.
Nurmagomedov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bizo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Bizo misses with a few strikes there.
Nurmagomedov appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Bizo misses with a few strikes there.
Nurmagomedov thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Bizo if he has to take too many more of those.
Bizo swinging wildly here.
Nurmagomedov throws a nice looking combination but Bizo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nurmagomedov misses with a two punch combination.
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!
Nurmagomedov throws a nice looking combination but Bizo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nurmagomedov forces Bizo back against the cage and clinches.

Nurmagomedov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nurmagomedov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bizo takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Nurmagomedov throws a right hand that Bizo ducks under and follows up with a left that Bizo also avoids with ease.
Miroslav Nurmagomedov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bizo misses with a wild combination.
Bizo pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Nurmagomedov lands with a nice body punch.
Nurmagomedov throws a solid leg kick but Bizo takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Nurmagomedov.
Bizo wants to clinch.
Nurmagomedov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bizo feints the counter takedown.

Nurmagomedov forces Bizo back against the cage and clinches.

Nurmagomedov manages to break the clinch.
Nurmagomedov throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov misses with a double jab.
Nurmagomedov tries to bum rush Bizo with a series of wild strikes but Bizo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bizo is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Nurmagomedov rushes Bizo and presses him up against the cage.

Nurmagomedov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Nurmagomedov takes the fight into the clinch.

Nurmagomedov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nurmagomedov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bizo.
Nurmagomedov misses with the combination.
A nice leg kick from Nurmagomedov, right into the meat of the thigh.
Nurmagomedov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nurmagomedov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bizo.
Bizo lands with a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bizo lands a nice shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bizo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bizo tries to clinch there but Nurmagomedov circles away.

Nurmagomedov feints and as Bizo raises his hands in defense, Nurmagomedov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Nurmagomedov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Bizo is proving hard to escape from.
Nurmagomedov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nurmagomedov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nurmagomedov postures up.
Nurmagomedov trying to control the position from guard on top but Bizo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bizo is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Nurmagomedov is controlling him.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Nurmagomedov is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Bizo is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Bizo has escaped and now he's on top!

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Miroslav Nurmagomedov dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nurmagomedov shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Bizo is trying to defend but Nurmagomedov finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Nurmagomedov lands strikes from half guard.
Bizo taking some punishment here, with Nurmagomedov in his half guard.
Nurmagomedov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nurmagomedov tries to pass to full mount but Bizo defends it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmagomedov stops Bizo from getting back to his feet.
Nurmagomedov takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Nurmagomedov winds up and cracks Bizo with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov working Bizo over with strikes.
Bizo wants to get back to his feet.
Nurmagomedov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nurmagomedov lands a nice short elbow.
Nurmagomedov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Bizo with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Nurmagomedov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bizo can do to turn this around?
Nurmagomedov tries to pass the half guard into mount. Bizo knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Bizo wants to control but Nurmagomedov is keeping busy.
Miroslav Nurmagomedov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nurmagomedov throws a strike but Bizo avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Bizo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Nurmagomedov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bizo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov postures up in Bizo's guard and throws a big left but Bizo blocks it.
Nurmagomedov looking to pass the guard.
Nurmagomedov stands up over Bizo, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Nurmagomedov is looking to work some ground and pound but Bizo has wrist control.
Nurmagomedov is in close to Bizo's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Bizo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nurmagomedov is working Bizo over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Nurmagomedov postures up in Bizo's guard and throws a big left but Bizo blocks it.
Bizo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bizo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bizo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bizo trying to control the position.
Nurmagomedov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Bizo wants to stand and escape but Nurmagomedov is having none of it.
Nurmagomedov is in close to Bizo's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Nurmagomedov cracks Bizo with a solid left hand.
Bizo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nurmagomedov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nurmagomedov throws an elbow that misses. Bizo uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Nurmagomedov's guard. Nice move by Bizo!

Nurmagomedov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bizo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov wants to sweep but no luck.
Nurmagomedov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nurmagomedov striking off his back.
Bizo advances position into side control!
Nurmagomedov is trying to control Bizo's posture but Bizo avoids it.
Nurmagomedov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nurmagomedov pecks away with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Nurmagomedov is not content to let Bizo control the position.
Bizo is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Miroslav Nurmagomedov dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

A nice inside leg kick there by Nurmagomedov. That's going to slow Bizo down.

Nurmagomedov has managed to clinch.
Nurmagomedov misses with a knee strike.

Nurmagomedov breaks the clinch.
Bizo scores with a shot to the body.

Nurmagomedov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Nurmagomedov breaks the clinch.
A combination from Nurmagomedov does no damage.
Nurmagomedov wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bizo throws a right hand that Nurmagomedov ducks under and follows up with a left that Nurmagomedov also avoids with ease.
No joy there for Bizo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nurmagomedov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Bizo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Bizo does no damage.
Nurmagomedov appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Miroslav Nurmagomedov is winning the standup battle so far.
Nurmagomedov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nurmagomedov closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Bizo swings for the body but Nurmagomedov moves out of range.
Nurmagomedov misses with the combination.
Bizo lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Bizo pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Nurmagomedov back to the cage. Bizo follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Nurmagomedov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A punch combination from Nurmagomedov misses.
Nurmagomedov throws a right hand that Bizo ducks under and follows up with a left that Bizo also avoids with ease.
Nurmagomedov looks to land a combination but Bizo avoids it well.
Nurmagomedov tries to bum rush Bizo with a series of wild strikes but Bizo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bizo looks to land a combination. Nurmagomedov sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Miroslav Nurmagomedov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nurmagomedov stuffs the takedown.
Bizo avoids a punch combination nicely.
Miroslav Nurmagomedov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nurmagomedov throws a series of punches but Bizo avoids them all with ease.

Nurmagomedov shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Bizo kicks Nurmagomedov off and gets back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nurmagomedov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bizo.
Good leg kick by Nurmagomedov.
Sloppy strikes from Nurmagomedov. Those never looked like landing.

Nurmagomedov has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bizo pulls his leg out and moves away.
Bizo tries to bum rush Nurmagomedov with a series of wild strikes but Nurmagomedov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bizo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Some wild striking there from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov throws a series of punches but Bizo moves out of range.
Nurmagomedov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nurmagomedov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nurmagomedov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bizo circles away quickly and effectively.
Bizo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nurmagomedov throws a one two combo.
Nurmagomedov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nurmagomedov misses with a wild combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bizo wants to clinch up but Nurmagomedov keeps it at a distance.
Bizo fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The fighters circle momentarily. Bizo darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Nurmagomedov fails to land with a series of punches.
Nurmagomedov fails to land with a series of punches.
A leg kick checked by Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov looks to land a combination but Bizo avoids it well.
Bizo is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Nurmagomedov throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Nurmagomedov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Bizo throws a right and a left that Nurmagomedov avoids nicely.
Some wild striking there from Bizo.
Nurmagomedov misses with a series of wild punches.
Nurmagomedov sets himself, and Bizo steps forward looking for the clinch! Nurmagomedov avoids it this time.

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 Miroslav Nurmagomedov.
Well Nurmagomedov 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Miroslav Nurmagomedov!
Miroslav Nurmagomedov seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.