PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Magomed Nurmagomedov (ranked 3936 p4p, 3958 weight class) and Bradley White (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Nurmagomedov
vs
White

178 cm
23
163
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
21
156
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Magomed Nurmagomedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bradley White!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Colin Fray and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
White looks to score with a jab to the body but Nurmagomedov is just out of range.
Nurmagomedov tries to counter by moving into the clinch but White manages to circle out of the way.
White takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Nurmagomedov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nurmagomedov throws out a leg kick but White moves out of range and Nurmagomedov only half commits.
White goes for a double leg but Nurmagomedov avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Nurmagomedov continues to drive forward.

White moves into the clinch.
Nurmagomedov stalling against the cage.
Nurmagomedov taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Nurmagomedov seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
White has Nurmagomedov pushed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice body punch from White.

White pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Nurmagomedov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with White, pushing him back against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Nurmagomedov - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov misses with some punches.
Nurmagomedov is trying to break the clinch but White has him pressed against the cage.
White gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

White pulls guard effortlessly.
Nurmagomedov trying to control but White is working from the bottom.
Nurmagomedov stops White from standing up.
Nurmagomedov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for White on the ground.
Nurmagomedov wants to control from the top but White keeps moving.

White has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nurmagomedov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
White wants to sweep here but Nurmagomedov controlling him for the moment.
White is trying to control the position but Nurmagomedov postures up.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Nurmagomedov stops White from standing up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Nurmagomedov tries to bum rush White with a series of wild strikes but White uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Nurmagomedov drives through with a takedown into White's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Nurmagomedov is stalling in the full guard.
White looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov wants to control from the top but White keeps moving.
White wants to hit a sweep here but Nurmagomedov passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for White there!
White manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by White, under a barage of strikes from Nurmagomedov.

Nurmagomedov is working for a submission of some sort.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
White blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nurmagomedov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov is pressing down on White's thigh, looking to free his foot. White is holding on for now.
Nurmagomedov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed White's head.
White is trying to maintain the position but Nurmagomedov is very close to passing his half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
White controlling the position well.
Nurmagomedov works his way into side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Magomed Nurmagomedov dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

White closes the distance and clinches up with Nurmagomedov, looking for a takedown. White pushes Nurmagomedov against the cage but Nurmagomedov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Nurmagomedov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
White wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
White is looking to reverse the position.

Nurmagomedov has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Nurmagomedov throws a looping overhand right but White ducks down to avoid it.
Nurmagomedov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmagomedov tries to clinch but White is having none of it.
Nurmagomedov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that White can do to turn this around?
White stuffs the takedown.
White was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.

Nurmagomedov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nurmagomedov is looking to take a break and control but White is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White is looking to escape.
White is trying to maintain the position but Nurmagomedov is very close to passing his half guard.
Nurmagomedov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. White defending well though.
White missing with punches from the bottom.
White blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nurmagomedov.
White is staying active underneath Nurmagomedov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Nurmagomedov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov trying to control the position but White is working away.
White struggling a bit here.
Nurmagomedov wants to control but White is keeping him busy.

White explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nurmagomedov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
White shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nurmagomedov pinned against the cage. Nurmagomedov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
White swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Nurmagomedov drives through and clinches with White against the cage.
Nurmagomedov tries to pull guard but White forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Nurmagomedov stalls.
Nurmagomedov fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Magomed Nurmagomedov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

White manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

White looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
White is breathing heavily.
Nurmagomedov trying to control but White is working from the bottom.
Magomed Nurmagomedov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nurmagomedov preventing the sweep.
Nurmagomedov trying to control but White is working from the bottom.
Nurmagomedov is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because White is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nurmagomedov throwing strikes but missing.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Magomed Nurmagomedov will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Nurmagomedov throws a head kick but White moves out of range.
White tries to score a power double leg takedown but Nurmagomedov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten White somewhat.

Nurmagomedov drives through and clinches with White against the cage.
Nurmagomedov tries to break the clinch but White is controlling the position.
White scores with a nice hook to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

White manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

White looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

White is looking for a triangle but Nurmagomedov pushes his legs off easily.
White takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White is trying to control the position but Nurmagomedov postures up.
Nurmagomedov wants to control from the top but White keeps moving.
White has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Nurmagomedov advances position into side control!
Nurmagomedov fails to land a wild elbow strike.

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.
White is not content to let Nurmagomedov control the position.
White is trying to get back to half guard.
Nurmagomedov creates some space and throws a big elbow, but White sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Nurmagomedov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. White knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Nurmagomedov goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, White rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Nurmagomedov's guard! Nice work there by White!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White tries to stand but Nurmagomedov is controlling from the bottom.
Nurmagomedov pulls White in close to prevent any damage.
Nurmagomedov wants to get back to his feet but White is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
White postures up.

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

Nurmagomedov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
White manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nurmagomedov manages to get himself to full guard.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nurmagomedov wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and White is now in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Bradley White.
Well Nurmagomedov has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:29
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Magomed Nurmagomedov!