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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Eli Pope (ranked 335 p4p, 24 weight class) and Khabib Nurmagomedov (ranked 39 p4p, 3 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!
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| 176 cm
36
160
19 - 7 - 0 |
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170 cm
30
153
21 - 11 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick |
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Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank |
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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 19 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Eli Pope!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Khabib Nurmagomedov!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yasuomi Hirokawa.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nurmagomedov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Pope throws a poor cross that misses
and Nurmagomedov makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Pope fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Nurmagomedov on the side of the head.
Nurmagomedov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pope.
Pope fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Nurmagomedov on the side of the head.
Pope throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Pope slips under a jab.
Pope lands a slapping body shot.
Pope moves forwards but Nurmagomedov connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Pope chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Eli Pope seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nurmagomedov misses with a straight right.
Nurmagomedov throws a hook but Pope avoids it easily.
Pope misses with a body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pope. Nurmagomedov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Pope tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nurmagomedov was well out of range. Poor timing from Pope.
Nurmagomedov changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Pope swings for the body but Nurmagomedov moves out of range.
Nurmagomedov lunges at Pope with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Pope's hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nurmagomedov uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Pope has time to react.
Pope moves away from the strike by Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov walks into a jab.
Pope slips under a jab.
Pope has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Savage Gym in the buildup to the fight.
Pope just misses with a punch to the body.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Pope feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Nurmagomedovs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Pope moves away from the strike by Nurmagomedov.
Pope throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Nurmagomedov feints the counter takedown.
Pope tries to work over Nurmagomedov's front leg with a kick but Nurmagomedov checks it.
Nurmagomedov checks a leg kick nicely.
Pope throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Nurmagomedov stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Pope takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Pope is looking to wear down Nurmagomedov with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Pope waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Nurmagomedov.
Pope misses with an attempted mid kick.
Pope connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
A solid leg kick lands there for Pope.
Nurmagomedov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pope paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nurmagomedov forces Pope back against the cage and clinches.
Nurmagomedov lands a right hand that snaps the head of Pope backwards.
Nurmagomedov struggles to land a body shot inside as Pope controls his hands.
Pope scores with a nice hook to the head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pope.
Nurmagomedov throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Popes head.
Nurmagomedov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nurmagomedov missing with a left hand there. Pope was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Pope momentarily.
Nurmagomedov cracks Pope with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Pope tries to clinch but Nurmagomedov moves out of range.
A right-left combo lands from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov doesn't manage to clinch there - Pope circles away.
Nurmagomedov lands an overhand right.
Nurmagomedov pushes Pope up against the cage in a clinch.
Nurmagomedov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pope's elbow.
Pope scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Nurmagomedov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pope cracks Nurmagomedov with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Pope misses the shot to the body.
Nurmagomedov with the counter takedown but Pope avoids it easily.
Nurmagomedov throws a jab when Pope was well out of range.
Nurmagomedov throws a head kick but Pope moves out of range.
Nurmagomedov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Pope.
Nurmagomedov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Pope.
A swing and a miss from Nurmagomedov.
Pope throws a sloppy body shot
and Nurmagomedov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Pope's guard.
Nurmagomedov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Pope pulls Nurmagomedov in close to his closed guard and prevents Nurmagomedov from doing any damage or advancing position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pope managing to control the position.
Nurmagomedov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pope on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Pope tries to get out of the position.
Nurmagomedov wants to control from the top but Pope keeps moving.
Nurmagomedov throws a big right hand that misses.
Pope avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Nurmagomedov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Nurmagomedov postures up in Pope's guard and throws a big left but Pope blocks it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nurmagomedov passes Pope's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Nurmagomedov is looking for a kimura here.
Nurmagomedov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Pope is refusing to be controlled, as Nurmagomedov sits in half guard.
Nurmagomedov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nurmagomedov is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Khabib Nurmagomedov dominated that round.
That's time! Pope's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Pope swings for the body but Nurmagomedov moves out of range.
Pope lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Nurmagomedov uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Pope has time to react.
Nurmagomedov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nurmagomedov fails with a takedown attempt.
Nurmagomedov throws out a powerful jab.
Pope scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Khabib Nurmagomedov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Pope throws a sloppy body shot
and Nurmagomedov counters with a straight right hand.
Nurmagomedov checks the leg kick.
Nurmagomedov moves away from the strike by Pope.
Nurmagomedov takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Nurmagomedov stuns Pope with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A big right from Pope misses.
Nurmagomedov throws the left hand but Pope avoids the punch easily.
Nurmagomedov tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Nurmagomedov throws a big shot that misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nurmagomedov shoots in but no luck this time.
Nurmagomedov throws a head kick that misses.
Pope bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
It looked like Pope wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope misses with a wild body shot.
Pope throws a solid leg kick but Nurmagomedov takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Pope.
Nurmagomedov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Pope misses with a looping left.
Pope throws out a powerful jab.
Nurmagomedov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Pope.
Nurmagomedov misses with a double jab.
Nurmagomedov keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Nurmagomedov is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Pope connects with a solid leg kick.
Nurmagomedov misses with an uppercut.
Pope moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Pope takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Nurmagomedov clinches up against the cage.
Pope misses with a punch on the inside.
Nurmagomedov misses with a body punch.
Pope tries to throw a body punch but Nurmagomedov avoids it by throwing Pope back against the cage.
Pope misses with a hook from the clinch.
Pope struggles to land a body shot inside as Nurmagomedov controls his hands.
Nurmagomedov working hard to break the clinch.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Pope breaks the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nurmagomedov missing with a left hand there. Pope was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A thudding body kick lands there by Pope!
Pope thows a leg kick but Nurmagomedov checks it
and Nurmagomedov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Nurmagomedov wants to take a breather but Pope is having none of it.
Nurmagomedov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Pope blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nurmagomedov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Pope defending well though.
Nurmagomedov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Nurmagomedov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Pope is not content to let Nurmagomedov control the position.
Pope blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nurmagomedov.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Nurmagomedov is looking for a kimura here.
Nurmagomedov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Pope manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Nurmagomedov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Pope avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pope working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nurmagomedov.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nurmagomedov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nurmagomedov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Pope has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Nurmagomedov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pope working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nurmagomedov.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nurmagomedov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Pope working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nurmagomedov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Khabib Nurmagomedov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!
A swing and a miss from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov misses the jab.
Nurmagomedov throws a body shot but no joy.
Nurmagomedov is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Pope throws a hook but Nurmagomedov blocks it.
Pope ducks under a wild hook from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nurmagomedov doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Pope connects with a leg kick.
Pope drops his hands momentarily and Nurmagomedov takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Pope misses with a body kick.
Nurmagomedov tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Nurmagomedov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nurmagomedov misses with a head kick.
Pope tries to land a front kick but Nurmagomedov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Pope blocks a head kick by Nurmagomedov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pope throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A low kick from Pope misses
and Nurmagomedov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Pope will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Pope throws a solid leg kick but Nurmagomedov takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Pope.
Nurmagomedov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pope.
Pope tries to score with a low kick but Nurmagomedov moves his leg out of the way.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov connects with the punch.
Pope avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nurmagomedov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nurmagomedov avoids the body shot from Pope.
Pope throws a shot from downtown. Nurmagomedov moves away and avoids it.
Nurmagomedov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nice straight punches there by Nurmagomedov. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Pope sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nurmagomedov just misses with a punch to the body.
Pope misses with an uppercut. Nurmagomedov saw that one coming.
Nurmagomedov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Pope swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nurmagomedov throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Pope lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Pope needs to keep his hands up - Nurmagomedov had a free shot at his head there.
A good leg kick by Pope.
Nurmagomedov jabs Pope to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pope blocks a jab.
Pope throws a wild body kick that Nurmagomedov sees coming a mile off.
Nurmagomedov feints the counter takedown.
Eli Pope has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Khabib Nurmagomedov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Nurmagomedov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Pope misses with a body kick.
Pope lands a body shot.
Pope swings for the body but Nurmagomedov moves out of range.
Nurmagomedov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pope.
Nurmagomedov lands a jab.
Pope tries to land a body kick
and Nurmagomedov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pope. Nurmagomedov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Pope closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Nurmagomedov's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Pope is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Nurmagomedov scores with a jab.
Pope throws a leg kick which misses Nurmagomedov's front leg but catches the back leg as Nurmagomedov tries to avoid it.
Pope misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov throws a head kick that misses.
Nurmagomedov takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Pope tries to keep at a distance but Nurmagomedov has taken the fight into the clinch.
Pope can't find room to land a body shot as Nurmagomedov controls the action.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nurmagomedov's elbow.
Pope lands a left hand.
Pope misses with a punch to the body.
Pope scores with a shoulder strike.
Nurmagomedov pushes Pope back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nurmagomedov.
Pope presses Nurmagomedov against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Pope misses with some punches.
Pope throws a punch but it's blocked by Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov throws a punch but it's blocked by Pope.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nurmagomedov.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Pope.
Pope doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Pope looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Nurmagomedov prevents a body shot from Pope.
A head punch on the inside from Pope fails to land.
Nurmagomedov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nurmagomedov takes a shot to the head.
Pope goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Nurmagomedov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Pope misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pope misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nurmagomedov blocks an uppercut.
Nurmagomedov blocking some punches.
And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Khabib Nurmagomedov.
I've got Nurmagomedov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Khabib Nurmagomedov!
Khabib Nurmagomedov took some time post fight to say the following; 'I’m the GOAT.'.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
62% |
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