PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Lyubof Nurmagomedov (ranked 2372 p4p, 3734 weight class) and Grappling Panda (ranked 223 p4p, 327 weight class). Grappling Panda told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Nurmagomedov
vs
Panda

179 cm
21
169
6 - 3 - 0

150 cm
21
155
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Counter fighter
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 6 - 3 - 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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Grappling Panda!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nurmagomedov connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Panda avoids the body shot from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Nurmagomedov lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Panda tries to clinch up.
Nurmagomedov scores with a decent looking hook.
Nurmagomedov connects with a good right hand that stumbles Panda. Panda circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Nurmagomedov scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Panda doesn't seem bothered though.
Nurmagomedov is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nurmagomedov. Panda does a little dance to reset his feet.
A jab from Nurmagomedov finds it's way through Panda's defenses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Panda showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Nurmagomedov.
Panda steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Nurmagomedov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov scores with a nice strike.
A cross from Nurmagomedov lands.
Nurmagomedov feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Pandas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Nice cross by Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Nurmagomedov looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Panda takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Nurmagomedov is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Nurmagomedov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Panda at a distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nurmagomedov cracks Panda with an open hand slap.

Nurmagomedov lands a left and a right that send Panda crashing to the mat, dazed. Nurmagomedov thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Panda is rocked!

Nurmagomedov feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Panda sprawling to the canvas! Panda rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Nurmagomedov finish him?!
Panda is still on wobbly legs! Can Nurmagomedov finish him?
Nurmagomedov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Panda.
Panda takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Panda seems to have recovered his senses.

Panda has Nurmagomedov up against the cage in a clinch.

Panda jumps guard and drags Nurmagomedov to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Panda avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nurmagomedov is looking to advance position but Panda has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nurmagomedov wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Nurmagomedov rolls, trying to escape but Panda keeps control of the position.
Nurmagomedov turns into Panda and is now in his guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Panda holds on and takes a little breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nurmagomedov throws a strike but Panda rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Nurmagomedov wants to sweep but no luck.
Panda slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Nurmagomedov throws his legs up looking for a submission but Panda uses it to pass to side control.

Panda tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Panda has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lyubof Nurmagomedov dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nurmagomedov uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Panda has time to react.
Nurmagomedov fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Panda looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A lazy left from Nurmagomedov finds it's target.
Panda on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Panda takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Nurmagomedov stuns Panda with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Nurmagomedov lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab by Nurmagomedov.
Panda takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Panda moves into the clinch.
Nurmagomedov lands with a light punch inside.
A short left from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov lands a body punch.
Panda tries to pull guard but Nurmagomedov forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Nurmagomedov lands a body punch.
Good body shot from Nurmagomedov.
Panda jumps guard but Nurmagomedov stands there with Panda around his waist. Panda gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Nurmagomedov gets through Panda's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Nurmagomedov lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nurmagomedov lands an uppercut.
Nurmagomedov lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Panda is trying to pull guard but Nurmagomedov has him pressed against the cage.
Lyubof Nurmagomedov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Grappling Panda.
Nurmagomedov working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Nurmagomedov lands a right hand.
Panda tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Nurmagomedov smiles and moves away.
Panda on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Nurmagomedov lands a nice looking body shot.
Panda tries to close the distance and clinch but Nurmagomedov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A counter left hand to the body from Nurmagomedov misses its target.
Nurmagomedov feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Pandas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Nurmagomedov looks to score with a jab to the body but Panda is just out of range.
Panda wants to counter the offense by Nurmagomedov and move into the clinch position.
Nurmagomedov throws a body punch but Panda moves out of range.
Donk. Nurmagomedov catches Panda right on the button with a cross.
Nurmagomedov misses with a looping left.
Panda tries to counter with a clinch but Nurmagomedov shakes him off and moves away.
Panda takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Panda has managed to clinch.
Panda tries to pull guard but Nurmagomedov won't allow it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Nurmagomedov.
Panda jumps guard but Nurmagomedov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Nurmagomedov is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Panda tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Panda tries to stall but Nurmagomedov uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A hook to the body from Nurmagomedov.
Panda is breathing heavily.
Nurmagomedov lands a nice shot to the body.
Nurmagomedov lands a right hand that snaps the head of Panda backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nurmagomedov lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Nurmagomedov lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Panda or not.
Nurmagomedov lands with a right to the head.
Nurmagomedov lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Panda backwards.
Panda takes a shot to the head.
Nurmagomedov throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Panda's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Panda tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Nurmagomedov smiles and moves away.

Nurmagomedov sends Panda crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Nurmagomedov is motioning to the referee to let Panda up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lyubof Nurmagomedov dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Panda leaves his chin hanging out and Nurmagomedov seizes the opportunity with an uppercut! Panda crumbles to the floor in a heap! The referee steps in and tends to the downed fighter! What a knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Lyubof Nurmagomedov!
As Lyubof Nurmagomedov got his breath back, he grabbed the microphone and managed to blurt out the following: Alhamdulillah, all respect to my opponent. He try very hard.'.