PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Daniyar Nurbolatov (ranked 2904 p4p, 3005 weight class) and Alexander Rusev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Daniyar Nurbolatov had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Nurbolatov
vs
Rusev

179 cm
23
179
7 - 3 - 0

170 cm
23
174
8 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Brawler
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Seventh Circle Clothing

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Daniyar Nurbolatov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alexander Rusev!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rusev looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Nurbolatov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rusev is working away from the top position though.
Rusev throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Nurbolatov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rusev.
Nurbolatov is staying active underneath Rusev, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Rusev is looking for a kimura but Nurbolatov is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rusev to get the leverage.
Rusev looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Nurbolatov with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Rusev is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Nurbolatov has managed to free his arm - good work.
Nurbolatov wants to control but Rusev is keeping busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nurbolatov looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rusev is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusev is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rusev is trying to control the action in half guard but Nurbolatov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
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. Rusev connects with a nice short shot to Nurbolatov's temple.
Nurbolatov moves into full guard.

Nurbolatov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nurbolatov seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Rusev slips nicely into half guard.

Rusev is looking for a kimura here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Nurbolatov is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rusev working over Nurbolatov with some ground and pound. Nurbolatov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Nurbolatov is trying to control but can't.
Nurbolatov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rusev.
Nurbolatov gets full guard.

Rusev avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rusev wants to control from the top but Nurbolatov keeps moving.

Nurbolatov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rusev with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rusev lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Nurbolatov is trying to control the position but Rusev postures up.

Rusev drops back, looking for a kneebar! Nurbolatov looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Nurbolatov looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Nurbolatov!

Nurbolatov tries to move into full mount but can't pass Rusev's legs.
Rusev manages to work his way to half guard, despite Nurbolatov's best efforts.
Rusev preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Nurbolatov wants to advance to full mount but Rusev doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rusev has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Nurbolatov has passed into side control.
The referee asks Nurbolatov politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Nurbolatov prefers to stall for the moment though.
Rusev struggling a bit here.
Nurbolatov trying to control the action but Rusev is working from the bottom.
Rusev felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Rusev is trying to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rusev struggling a bit here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rusev dives in and scores a takedown into Nurbolatov's guard.
Rusev working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Rusev trying to control the position from guard on top but Nurbolatov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Nurbolatov isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Rusev stacks Nurbolatov on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Rusev!
Rusev is chipping away with strikes.
Rusev working the ground and pound.
Check out the look on Rusev's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rusev landing a few strikes.
Rusev wants to take a breather but Nurbolatov manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Rusev.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusev throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rusev with a nice head shot there.
Rusev trying to control but Nurbolatov is working from the bottom.
Rusev keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Nurbolatov's head.
Rusev postures up.
Rusev slips nicely into half guard.

Rusev is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Nurbolatov is just riding it out for now. Rusev eventually gives up the hold.
Nurbolatov slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nurbolatov is looking for a triangle but Rusev pushes his legs off easily.
Nurbolatov controls Rusev momentarily but Rusev frees himself.
Rusev trying to control but Nurbolatov is working from the bottom.
Nurbolatov looking to control.
Rusev trying to control the position from guard on top but Nurbolatov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rusev's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rusev postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rusev accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rusev being controlled here momentarily.

Nurbolatov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rusev scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rusev lands a couple of elbows.
Rusev scoring with some ground and pound.
Nurbolatov controls Rusev momentarily but Rusev frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rusev with a nice head shot there.
Rusev content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rusev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rusev with a nice head shot there.
Alexander Rusev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nurbolatov has his hands on Rusev's head, controlling the position.

Nurbolatov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Nurbolatov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rusev wants to control from the top but Nurbolatov keeps moving.
Rusev is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Rusev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rusev bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Nurbolatov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Nurbolatov takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Rusev laying and praying for a moment but Nurbolatov takes advantage and regains half guard.
Nurbolatov is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rusev scores with a couple of nice shots.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rusev wants to pass to mount but Nurbolatov is defending the position.
Nurbolatov is trying to control but can't.
Rusev looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Nurbolatov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rusev pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurbolatov moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Nurbolatov keeping moving, preventing Rusev from controlling successfully.
Rusev working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nurbolatov's head.
Nurbolatov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rusev manages to get himself to full guard.

Rusev keeping moving, preventing Nurbolatov from controlling successfully.
Rusev has his hands on Nurbolatov's head, controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rusev is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nurbolatov trying to control the position from guard on top but Rusev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nurbolatov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Nurbolatov trying to control but Rusev is working from the bottom.
Rusev looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Rusev keeping moving, preventing Nurbolatov from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Nurbolatov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rusev looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Nurbolatov advances to full mount.
Rusev is looking to improve his position but Nurbolatov isn't that keen on the idea.
Daniyar Nurbolatov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rusev tries to lock up and control but Nurbolatov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rusev gets back to half guard.
Rusev keeping hold of Nurbolatov's head, controlling as best he can.
Rusev missing with punches from the bottom.
Alexander Rusev is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rusev works his way to full guard. Good work.
Rusev is pulling down on Nurbolatov's head to control his posture.
Nurbolatov throws a strike but Rusev rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Rusev controlling from the top position.
Nurbolatov throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rusev landing with the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Alexander Rusev.
Well Rusev has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Rusev!