PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Cardillo (ranked 4272 p4p, 4402 weight class) and Nikoly Nurmagomedov (ranked 0 p4p, 433 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cardillo
vs
Nurmagomedov

174 cm
18
155
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
23
155
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Antonio Cardillo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Nikoly Nurmagomedov!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Steven Brown and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cardillo closes the distance and clinches up with Nurmagomedov, looking for a takedown. Cardillo pushes Nurmagomedov against the cage but Nurmagomedov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nurmagomedov tries to counter with a clinch but Cardillo shakes him off and moves away.
Cardillo takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Cardillo shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Nurmagomedov's guard.

Nurmagomedov has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Cardillo has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Nurmagomedov has hold of one of Cardillo's legs. Cardillo is fighting the takedown attempt but Nurmagomedov gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cardillo is trying to control the position but Nurmagomedov postures up.

Nurmagomedov stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Cardillo fails with the takedown
and Nurmagomedov counters with a head kick. That will keep Cardillo thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Cardillo gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Nurmagomedov to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Nurmagomedov chips away with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Cardillo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Nurmagomedov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nurmagomedov throwing strikes but missing.
Cardillo keeping moving, preventing Nurmagomedov from controlling successfully.

Cardillo had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nurmagomedov defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cardillo working a defensive guard but Nurmagomedov passes into half guard.
Cardillo trying to control here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nurmagomedov content to control rather than advance.
Cardillo wants to get back to full guard.

Nurmagomedov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Nurmagomedov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardillo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cardillo is doing well to control the position and prevent Nurmagomedov from advancing to side control.
Nurmagomedov sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nurmagomedov is pressing down on Cardillo's thigh, looking to free his foot. Cardillo is holding on for now.
Cardillo wants to improve his position but Nurmagomedov is controlling well.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Cardillo shoots in for a takedown but Nurmagomedov shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Cardillo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cardillo shoots in looking for a takedown but Nurmagomedov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cardillo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
As Cardillo backs off Nurmagomedov throws a huge counter combo but Cardillo manages to avoid it all.
Cardillo shoots and misses
and Nurmagomedov counters with a series of strikes. Cardillo will be more careful next time no doubt.

Nurmagomedov gets a double leg takedown into Cardillo's guard.
Nurmagomedov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cardillo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nurmagomedov on the ground.

Nurmagomedov drops back looking for a leg! Cardillo is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Cardillo manages to kick Nurmagomedov off! Nurmagomedov jumps back into Cardillo's guard.
Nurmagomedov trying to control the position from guard on top but Cardillo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nikoly Nurmagomedov dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cardillo gets caught napping as Nurmagomedov dives in and scores a takedown. Cardillo manages to retain guard.

Nurmagomedov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cardillo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nurmagomedov has managed to get both his arms back between Cardillo's legs - danger averted.
Nurmagomedov trying to control but Cardillo is working from the bottom.
Nurmagomedov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmagomedov wants to control from the top but Cardillo keeps moving.
Cardillo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov postures up in Cardillo's guard and throws a big left but Cardillo blocks it.
Nurmagomedov trying to control but Cardillo is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Cardillo looks for a takedown but Nurmagomedov sprawls well.

Cardillo shoots in and bounces Nurmagomedov off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Nurmagomedov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cardillo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cardillo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Nurmagomedov scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cardillo takes a kick to the side of the head.

Cardillo shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Cardillo showed some decent athleticism there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nurmagomedov trying to control here.

Nurmagomedov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nurmagomedov can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov trying to hold on to Cardillo's head to control him but Cardillo postures up.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Cardillo connects with a nice short shot to Nurmagomedov's temple.
Nurmagomedov tries to kick Cardillo off but Cardillo keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Cardillo misses with a head shot. Nurmagomedov uses the momentum to regain guard.
Cardillo throws an elbow that misses. Nurmagomedov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cardillo's guard. Nice move by Nurmagomedov!

Cardillo looking to control but Nurmagomedov passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nurmagomedov is looking for a kimura but Cardillo is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Nurmagomedov to get the leverage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nurmagomedov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cardillo's head.
Cardillo is refusing to be controlled, as Nurmagomedov sits in half guard.
Cardillo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nurmagomedov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cardillo on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nikoly Nurmagomedov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Cardillo gets caught flat footed, as Nurmagomedov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Nurmagomedov passes Cardillo's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Nurmagomedov is looking to take a break and control but Cardillo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nurmagomedov has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Nurmagomedov landing punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmagomedov trying to control but Cardillo is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov lands a heavy elbow.
Cardillo is in all sorts of trouble here.
Nurmagomedov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Cardillo is looking to escape.
Antonio Cardillo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Cardillo wants to control but Nurmagomedov is having none of it.
Cardillo takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Nurmagomedov working Cardillo over with strikes here.
Cardillo can't escape the position.

Nurmagomedov swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Nikoly Nurmagomedov!