PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Lyubof Nurmagomedov (ranked 2362 p4p, 3359 weight class) and Sergio Striking (ranked 245 p4p, 327 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Nurmagomedov
vs
Striking

179 cm
21
169
4 - 2 - 0

178 cm
21
165
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lyubof Nurmagomedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sergio Striking!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nurmagomedov throws a hook but Striking blocks it.

Striking gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Nurmagomedov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Striking works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nurmagomedov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nurmagomedov is looking to work some ground and pound but Striking has wrist control.
Nurmagomedov wants to control from the top but Striking keeps moving.
Nurmagomedov working some strikes from top position.
Nurmagomedov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Striking keeping moving, preventing Nurmagomedov from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Striking uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Striking misses with a jab, cross combination.
Striking slips a straight right by Nurmagomedov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Striking misses the target.
Sergio Striking seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nurmagomedov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Striking throws out the jab.
Striking lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Nurmagomedov looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Striking looks to throw the jab but Nurmagomedov is out of range.
Nurmagomedov tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Striking defends well and Nurmagomedov ends up having to push Striking into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Nurmagomedov as Striking tries to tie him up.
Nurmagomedov lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Striking looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Striking is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Striking stalling in the clinch but Nurmagomedov improves position.
A short left from Nurmagomedov.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Nurmagomedov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Striking blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Striking wants to break the clinch but can't.
Striking is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Striking's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Striking.
Striking throws a lazy right hand but Nurmagomedov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Striking scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Striking misses with a two punch combination.
Nurmagomedov slips under a jab from Striking.
Striking lands with a shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A lazy left from Nurmagomedov finds it's target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nurmagomedov. Striking does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nurmagomedov walks into a straight right hand from Striking.
Nurmagomedov uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Striking has time to react.
Nurmagomedov missing with a left hand there. Striking was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Striking is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Striking tests Nurmagomedov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nurmagomedov shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Nurmagomedov looking to score a takedown here. Striking is defending well but Nurmagomedov drives through and ends up in Striking's guard.
Nurmagomedov prevents Striking from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov wants to pass the guard but Striking is keeping the position.
Nurmagomedov scoring with punches to the head and body.
Nurmagomedov throws a strike but Striking rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nurmagomedov is on top in guard.

Nurmagomedov won't allow Striking to get back to his feet.
Nurmagomedov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nurmagomedov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Nurmagomedov slips nicely into half guard.
Striking wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov trying to control the action but Striking is working from the bottom.
Nurmagomedov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Striking's head.
Nurmagomedov is controlling the pace.
Nurmagomedov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Striking tries to kick Nurmagomedov off but Nurmagomedov keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Nurmagomedov scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Nurmagomedov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Lyubof Nurmagomedov will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Striking connects with a looping right hand.
Nurmagomedov changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Nurmagomedov slips a jab from Striking.
Sergio Striking seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Striking connects with the punch.
Nurmagomedov staying out of range there.
Striking takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Striking uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Striking lands with a cross.
Striking stuns Nurmagomedov with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Striking misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nurmagomedov.
Striking lands a jab to the nose.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Striking throws a jab when Nurmagomedov was well out of range.
Nurmagomedov throws a shot to the body.
Nurmagomedov avoids the body shot from Striking.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Nurmagomedov.
Striking misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Striking lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Nurmagomedov throws a body shot but no joy.
Striking misses with a wild body shot.
Striking swings away with a body shot that misses
and Nurmagomedov counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Sergio Striking is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Striking misses with a few strikes there.
Nurmagomedov appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Nurmagomedov sizes up Striking with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Nurmagomedov is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Striking lands with a cross.
Nurmagomedov's corner calls for a 1-2. Nurmagomedov obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Striking. Those never looked like landing.
Nurmagomedov swings for the body but Striking moves out of range.
Nurmagomedov misses with a hook. Striking ducked under it nicely.
Striking unleashes a big counter combination but Nurmagomedov bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Nurmagomedov cracks Striking with a good jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice cross by Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Nurmagomedov shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Striking is trying to defend but Nurmagomedov finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Striking manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Nurmagomedov keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Striking is pushing Nurmagomedov up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Nurmagomedov prevents Striking from breaking the clinch.
Striking has had enough of the clinch but Nurmagomedov keeps him there for the moment.
Nurmagomedov lands a shot to the body.
Nurmagomedov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Striking fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Striking throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Striking thuds a left hand into Nurmagomedov's body.
Nurmagomedov scores with a punch to the head.
Jab from Striking.
Nurmagomedov blocks a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Nurmagomedov scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Nurmagomedov scores with a jab.
Striking throws a right and a left that both miss.
Striking fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nurmagomedov manages to avoid it.
Striking fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nurmagomedov manages to avoid it.
Striking's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Striking duly obliges.
Nurmagomedov lands a nice shot that snaps Striking's head back.
Striking lands a jab-cross combination.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nurmagomedov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Donk. Striking catches Nurmagomedov right on the button with a cross.
Striking tries to bum rush Nurmagomedov with a series of wild strikes but Nurmagomedov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nurmagomedov was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Nurmagomedov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Striking but Striking pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lyubof Nurmagomedov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Striking fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Striking slips under a jab.
Striking tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nurmagomedov was well out of range. Poor timing from Striking.
A jab from Striking finds it's way through Nurmagomedov's defenses.
A big left from Nurmagomedov misses.
Striking with a jab.
The fighters circling - Nurmagomedov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Striking throws out a loose jab but Nurmagomedov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nurmagomedov feinted with a counter takedown.
Striking misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nurmagomedov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Striking throws out the jab.
Striking takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
A jab from Nurmagomedov finds it's way through Striking's defenses.
Nurmagomedov throws a body punch but Striking moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Striking digs a good hook to Nurmagomedov's body.
Nurmagomedov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Striking throws out a counter right but Nurmagomedov avoids it with no problem.
Striking throws a jab when Nurmagomedov was well out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sergio Striking showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Striking uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nurmagomedov.
Striking let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Nurmagomedov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Nurmagomedov throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Striking tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Nurmagomedov is in Striking's guard.
Nurmagomedov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Striking wants to stand and escape but Nurmagomedov is having none of it.
Nurmagomedov trying to control the position from guard on top but Striking is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Striking wants to get back to his feet but Nurmagomedov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Striking keeping full guard, as Nurmagomedov tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmagomedov trying to control but Striking is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Nurmagomedov wants to control from the top but Striking keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nurmagomedov jabs at Striking's body.
Nurmagomedov throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Striking lands with a nice combination. Nurmagomedov backs away looking to recover.
Nurmagomedov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Striking pinned against the cage. Striking gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nurmagomedov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Striking.
Nurmagomedov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Striking throws a series of punches but Nurmagomedov avoids them all with ease.
Striking throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Striking takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov misses the shot to the body.
Nurmagomedov digs a good hook to Striking's body.
Striking staying out of range there.
Striking misses with an uppercut.
Nurmagomedov misses with a wild body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nurmagomedov misses with a hook.

Nurmagomedov throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Striking was covering up waiting for the punch and Nurmagomedov finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Nurmagomedov won't allow Striking to get back to his feet.
Striking wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Nurmagomedov manages to pass to side control.
Nurmagomedov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
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 is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Nurmagomedov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Striking wants to get back to his feet.
Nurmagomedov is trying to control the action in half guard but Striking is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Nurmagomedov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Striking has hold of Nurmagomedov's hands but Nurmagomedov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's four 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.
Nurmagomedov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Striking wants to get back to his feet.

Nurmagomedov is looking for a kimura here.
Nurmagomedov works his way into full mount!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nurmagomedov looking to control but Striking is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyubof Nurmagomedov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Nurmagomedov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Lyubof Nurmagomedov!
Post fight, an emotional Lyubof Nurmagomedov said 'Alhamdulillah, all respect to my opponent. He try very hard.'.
The defeated Sergio Striking had this to say: 'I'll back'.