PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Pasi Nurminen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Ferguson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pasi Nurminen has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Nurminen
vs
Ferguson

174 cm
20
166 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

183 cm
26
155 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Russian Top Team Nutrition

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pasi Nurminen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tony Ferguson!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Valeri Chadov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nurminen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nurminen paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Nurminen swings for the body but Ferguson moves out of range.
Ferguson throws a jab but it's blocked by Nurminen.

Ferguson moves into range and clinches up with Nurminen.
Nurminen trying to control the position but instead, Ferguson has worked for underhooks and has pushed Nurminen into the ropes.
Ferguson blocks an uppercut.
Nurminen pressing his opponent against the ropes.
Nurminen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Nurminen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Nurminen.
Nurminen throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Fergusons head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Nurminen.
Ferguson blocking some punches.
Nurminen leaning his opponent against the ropes.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ferguson.
Nurminen scores with a shot to the side of Ferguson's head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Maybe Nurminen would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.
Nurminen lands a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurminen lands with a right to the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Nurminen - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Nurminen stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Nurminen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nurminen lands a right hand.
Nurminen misses with a body punch.
Ferguson looking for a takedown.
Nurminen gets through Ferguson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Nurminen misses with a body punch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Nurminen.
Nurminen lands with a short shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurminen taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Nurminen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Nurminen throws a punch but it's blocked by Ferguson.
Nurminen trying to stall but Ferguson improves his position.
Ferguson blocks a body shot from Nurminen.
Nurminen lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Nurminen misses with a punch on the inside.
Ferguson looking for a takedown.
Ferguson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Nurminen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Pasi Nurminen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Ferguson.
Nurminen effectively controlling the action here.
Nurminen gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson is trying to break the clinch but Nurminen is controlling him.
Ferguson is trying to maintain a safe position but Nurminen gets an underhook and turns Ferguson into the ropes.
Nurminen tries to throw a body punch but Ferguson avoids it by throwing Nurminen back against the ropes.
Nurminen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nurminen stalling the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Pasi Nurminen.
Nurminen lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pasi Nurminen dominated that round.
That's time! Nurminen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A jab from Nurminen misses.
Nurminen misses the jab.

Ferguson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
You can see the frustration on Nurminen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Ferguson misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
You can see the frustration on Nurminen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Ferguson working the ground and pound but Nurminen is defending the strikes.
Ferguson working away.
Ferguson working the strikes but Nurminen uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Ferguson prevents Nurminen from improving his position.
Nice strikes from Ferguson there.
Nurminen is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurminen is staying active underneath Ferguson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ferguson passes to full mount!

Ferguson jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Nurminen manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Ferguson trying to control the action but Nurminen is working from the bottom.
Nurminen tries to improve position but can't.
Ferguson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nurminen keeps working.
Ferguson is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Ferguson tries to move to mount but Nurminen blocks the move with his legs.
Ferguson trying to control the position but Nurminen is working away.
Ferguson landing a few strikes.
Nurminen is trying to improve his position.
Nurminen takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
The strikes coming from Ferguson are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nurminen dodges the ground and pound from Ferguson.
Ferguson in side control, throwing shots but Nurminen defends.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson wants to control but Nurminen is keeping him busy.
Nurminen is looking for a sweep.
Ferguson looks up at the clock and then as Nurminen takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Ferguson smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Nurminen trying to remain calm as Ferguson controls from the top position.
Ferguson working the ground and pound.

Ferguson is trying to get an arm triangle but Nurminen is defending well.
Nurminen is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Nurminen tries to roll over but Ferguson keeps him under control.
Ferguson is trying to control the action in half guard but Nurminen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Ferguson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ferguson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Nurminen defends it well.
Nurminen wants to get back to full guard.
Nurminen trying to control but Ferguson postures up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nurminen is trying to stand back up but Ferguson is controlling him
Ferguson throwing shots but Nurminen is blocking nicely.
Ferguson lands with a punch from half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ferguson prevents Nurminen from improving his position.
Ferguson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nurminen wants to sweep but Ferguson has passed to side control!
Nurminen sneaks back into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Ferguson 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!

Ferguson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Nurminen sprawls well initially but Ferguson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Tony Ferguson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ferguson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Nurminen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ferguson.
Ferguson is looking to take a break and control but Nurminen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nurminen is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ferguson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ferguson's back!

Nurminen looking to break Ferguson's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Ferguson remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Nurminen will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

Ferguson defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Nurminen's arms.
Nurminen gets his hands free as Ferguson looks to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferguson rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Ferguson is not content to let Nurminen control the position.
Nurminen is just content to waste time from the top position. Ferguson takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Nurminen wants to pass the guard but Ferguson is keeping the position.
Ferguson is pulling down on Nurminen's head. It's preventing any offense from Nurminen, at least for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Nurminen is controlling him.
Ferguson trying to control the position.
Nurminen has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ferguson is proving hard to escape from.
Nurminen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Tony Ferguson was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Ferguson has managed to clinch.
Ferguson wants a takedown but no success here.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Nurminen lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Ferguson working hard to break the clinch.
Nurminen can't find room to land a body shot as Ferguson controls the action.
A nice right hand lands inside from Nurminen.
Nurminen lands with a short shot to the head.
Nurminen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Nurminen has a couple of punches blocked by Ferguson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nurminen is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Ferguson is keeping busy.
Ferguson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Nurminen misses with a punch on the inside.
Nurminen is pressed up against the ropes. Ferguson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nurminen down to the mat. Nurminen avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Pasi Nurminen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Ferguson.
Ferguson loads up on a big right hand but Nurminen slips the punch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Ferguson gets the takedown into side control.
Ferguson working away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Ferguson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tony Ferguson.
I think Ferguson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight for Tony Ferguson!
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight as a draw!

The fight ends as a draw!