PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nico Raspadori (ranked 4366 p4p, 5051 weight class) and Daniyar Nurbolatov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Raspadori
vs
Nurbolatov

177 cm
25
170
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
20
179
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good gas tank

Furnace Performance ðŸ”¥
Silverguard Outfitters ðŸ›¡

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nico Raspadori!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Daniyar Nurbolatov!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good shot there by Raspadori.
Raspadori uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nurbolatov.

Nurbolatov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Raspadori is looking for a sweep. Nurbolatov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nurbolatov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Raspadori keeps working.
Raspadori is looking for a sweep. Nurbolatov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Raspadori is staying active underneath Nurbolatov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Nurbolatov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Raspadori defends it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raspadori is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurbolatov is trying to control the action in half guard but Raspadori is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Nurbolatov is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Raspadori has managed to free his arm - good work.

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

Nurbolatov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Raspadori sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Raspadori wants to improve his position but Nurbolatov is controlling well.
Nurbolatov has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Raspadori sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Raspadori holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Nurbolatov tries to pass to full mount but Raspadori defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raspadori works his way to full guard. Good work.
Nurbolatov wants to control from the top but Raspadori keeps moving.
Nurbolatov is pushing down on Raspadori's leg trying to pass to half guard. Raspadori is fighting to maintain full guard but Nurbolatov has managed to sneak the leg through.
Raspadori is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Nurbolatov's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Nurbolatov's back!
Nurbolatov wants to escape the position.
Nurbolatov staying busy and making it hard for Raspadori to control.
Nurbolatov wants to control his opponent's hands but Raspadori gets his hands free.

Raspadori working for a choke but Nurbolatov is defending well.
Nurbolatov trying to control the hands but Raspadori breaks the grip.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nurbolatov rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Raspadori wants to stand up but Nurbolatov has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Raspadori wants to take a breather but Nurbolatov is having none of it.
Nurbolatov trying to control but Raspadori postures up.

Nurbolatov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Raspadori is trying to control. Nurbolatov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Nurbolatov has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Daniyar Nurbolatov will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Raspadori stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Raspadori wants it to stay on the feet.
Nurbolatov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Nurbolatov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Raspadori to the mat! Raspadori manages to get full guard.
Raspadori keeping moving, preventing Nurbolatov from controlling successfully.
Raspadori is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurbolatov pushes down on Raspadori's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Raspadori is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nurbolatov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Nurbolatov trying to control the action but Raspadori is working from the bottom.

Nurbolatov is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Raspadori doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Nurbolatov.
Daniyar Nurbolatov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nurbolatov controlling the action 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.
Raspadori is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Raspadori is trying to control but can't.
Nurbolatov blocks the strikes from Raspadori.

Raspadori looking for submissions off his back.
Nurbolatov is keen to just control but Raspadori is a slippery customer.
Raspadori wants to control but Nurbolatov is keeping busy.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Nurbolatov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Nurbolatov looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nurbolatov seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Raspadori has recovered full guard.
Nurbolatov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Nurbolatov stands and throws Raspadori's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Raspadori is trying to get back to half guard.
Nurbolatov wants to control but Raspadori is keeping him busy.

Nurbolatov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Raspadori has escaped the position, nice work there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Nurbolatov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Raspadori has escaped the position, nice work there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Daniyar Nurbolatov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Raspadori's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Nurbolatov takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Nurbolatov takes one on the button.
Nurbolatov with a poor takedown
and Raspadori counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Nurbolatov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nurbolatov is working for a kimura but Raspadori is defending it quite comfortably.

Nurbolatov looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurbolatov prevents Raspadori from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurbolatov wants to pass the guard but Raspadori is defending well.

Raspadori looking for submissions off his back.

Nurbolatov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Raspadori sees it coming and defends easily.
Raspadori tries to get to full guard but Nurbolatov has control of the leg.

That's two 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.
Nurbolatov is trying to control. Raspadori wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Raspadori is trying to maintain the position but Nurbolatov is very close to passing his half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raspadori is looking to improve his position.
Well, if Nurbolatov is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Nurbolatov trying to control the action but Raspadori is working from the bottom.
Nurbolatov prevents Raspadori from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nurbolatov looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Nurbolatov is trying for a kimura here. Raspadori looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Nurbolatov wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Daniyar Nurbolatov!
An out of breath Daniyar Nurbolatov thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.