PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Nwachukwu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zaubrek Ubrihayev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ubrihayev is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Kalinka maja. John Nwachukwu has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nwachukwu
vs
Ubrihayev

189 cm
21
205 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

189 cm
21
220 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
KO power

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Nwachukwu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zaubrek Ubrihayev!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Illya Tyunina and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ubrihayev closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Nwachukwu's guard.
Ubrihayev 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.
Ubrihayev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nwachukwu wants to get back to his feet but Ubrihayev is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ubrihayev throwing strikes from guard but Nwachukwu blocks nicely.
Ubrihayev wants to control from the top but Nwachukwu keeps moving.
Ubrihayev missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ubrihayev is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nwachukwu is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ubrihayev throws a big right hand that misses.
Ubrihayev trying to control but Nwachukwu is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ubrihayev postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ubrihayev wants to control from the top but Nwachukwu keeps moving.
Nwachukwu is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ubrihayev trying to move into half guard but instead Nwachukwu has managed to sweep!
Nwachukwu trying to control the position from guard on top but Ubrihayev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nwachukwu lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Zaubrek Ubrihayev has been cut.
Ubrihayev takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nwachukwu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nwachukwu throws a head kick that half lands.

Ubrihayev is rocked!
That kick from Nwachukwu tenderised Ubrihayev's leg. Ubrihayev is trying to keep his angry face on.
Ubrihayev shoots in looking for a takedown. Nwachukwu tries to sprawl out of it but Ubrihayev keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Nwachukwu manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ubrihayev misses the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ubrihayev lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Nwachukwu backs up against the cage.
Ubrihayev fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Ubrihayev lands with a hook. Nwachukwu tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Nwachukwu throws a head kick that misses.

Nwachukwu sets himself and throws a head kick that knocks Ubrihayev to the ground! Nwachukwu dives into full mount looking to finish!
Ubrihayev is still in real trouble! Can Nwachukwu finish him?
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Nwachukwu with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Nwachukwu looking to secure an arm triangle but Ubrihayev defends it well.
Ubrihayev seems to have recovered his senses.
Ubrihayev really wants to buck Nwachukwu off and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ubrihayev wants to control but Nwachukwu is having none of it.
Ubrihayev manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Nwachukwu seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ubrihayev does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nwachukwu is thwarting Ubrihayev's attempts to control the position.

Nwachukwu is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ubrihayev sees it coming and defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Nwachukwu dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Zaubrek Ubrihayev's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ubrihayev scores with a one two! Nwachukwu had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Nwachukwu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ubrihayev manages to avoid it.
A jab from Ubrihayev misses.
Ubrihayev shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nwachukwu pinned against the cage. Nwachukwu gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nwachukwu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ubrihayev.
Nwachukwu fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nwachukwu throws a head kick that misses.
Nwachukwu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ubrihayev ducks under a wild hook from Nwachukwu.
Ubrihayev keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Nwachukwu.
Nwachukwu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
John Nwachukwu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ubrihayev lands a nice shot to the body.
Nwachukwu throws a low kick but it's checked well by Ubrihayev.
Nwachukwu takes one on the button.
A big right from Nwachukwu misses.
Nwachukwu scores with a push kick.
Nwachukwu on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Nwachukwu misses with a straight right.
Nwachukwu thows a body shot but no joy.
Nwachukwu misses the jab.
Nwachukwu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ubrihayev paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Ubrihayev lands with an uppercut that bounces Nwachukwu off the cage and back into range.
Nwachukwu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nwachukwu catches Ubrihayev with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nwachukwu misses with a looping right.
Nwachukwu motions for Ubrihayev to come forward. Nwachukwu throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Ubrihayev misses with the combination.
A head kick from Nwachukwu lands but Ubrihayev takes it in his stride.
Ubrihayev 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.
A punch combination from Nwachukwu misses.
Nwachukwu tries a head kick but it misses.
Nwachukwu throws a head kick that misses.
Nwachukwu wants to clinch up but Ubrihayev keeps it at a distance.
Ubrihayev works over Nwachukwu's head and body with a nice combination.
Ubrihayev connects with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ubrihayev scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Nwachukwu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Ubrihayev looking to score a takedown here. Nwachukwu is defending well but Ubrihayev drives through and ends up in Nwachukwu's guard.
Ubrihayev works over Nwachukwu with some ground and pound from guard.
Nwachukwu keeping moving, preventing Ubrihayev from controlling successfully.
Ubrihayev throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ubrihayev wants to control from the top but Nwachukwu keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nwachukwu is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ubrihayev is controlling him.
Nwachukwu avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Nwachukwu keeping moving, preventing Ubrihayev from controlling successfully.
Nwachukwu being controlled here, momentarily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Zaubrek Ubrihayev was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Nwachukwu connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Zaubrek Ubrihayev will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Zaubrek Ubrihayev's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Ubrihayev blocks a head kick by Nwachukwu.
John Nwachukwu is winning the standup battle so far.
Ubrihayev fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A swing and a miss from Ubrihayev.
Ubrihayev misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nwachukwu moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Nwachukwu throws a head kick but Ubrihayev moves out of range.
Nwachukwu takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Ubrihayev swinging wildly here.
Nwachukwu staying out of range there.
Ubrihayev misses with a combination

and Nwachukwu counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Nwachukwu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nwachukwu tries a knee to the head but Ubrihayev blocks it.
Nwachukwu throws a knee to the head but misses.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Nwachukwu lands with a right to the head.
Nwachukwu lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Nwachukwu lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That has opened up Zaubrek Ubrihayev's cut even more.
Nwachukwu pressing his opponent against the cage.
A short uppercut from Nwachukwu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nwachukwu is pressed up against the cage. Ubrihayev has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nwachukwu down to the mat. Nwachukwu avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Nwachukwu throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Nwachukwu stuffs the takedown.
John Nwachukwu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zaubrek Ubrihayev.
Nwachukwu slips under a jab from Ubrihayev.
Zaubrek Ubrihayev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nwachukwu showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ubrihayev.
Nwachukwu swings for the body but Ubrihayev moves out of range.
Ubrihayev misses with a takedown

and Nwachukwu counters with a right hand that sends Ubrihayev tumbling to the canvas! Can Nwachukwu finish him? He dives into Ubrihayev's guard looking to do just that!
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!
Nwachukwu trying to control but Ubrihayev is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nwachukwu wants to pass the guard but Ubrihayev is keeping the position.

Nwachukwu is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ubrihayev is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ubrihayev has escaped and now he's on top!
Ubrihayev slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Nwachukwu wants to stand up but Ubrihayev is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Ubrihayev trying to control the position from guard on top but Nwachukwu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ubrihayev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ubrihayev wants to control from the top but Nwachukwu keeps moving.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Zaubrek Ubrihayev wasn't active enough on the ground.
Nwachukwu connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Nwachukwu showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Nwachukwu 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Nwachukwu!
John Nwachukwu took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.