PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Igor Nabokov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juan Dimagiba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nabokov comes to the cage accompanied by Sparks - The Who. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Nabokov
vs
Dimagiba

182 cm
26
185 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

202 cm
26
170 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Igor Nabokov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Juan Dimagiba!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dimagiba stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Dimagiba wants it to stay on the feet.
Dimagiba misses with a series of wild punches.
Dimagiba stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Dimagiba wants it to stay on the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nabokov is defended easily by Dimagiba.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Igor Nabokov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Dimagiba shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Dimagiba drops an elbow to the side of Nabokov's head.
Dimagiba stalling.
Dimagiba not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nabokov is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Dimagiba working over Nabokov with some ground and pound. Nabokov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Nabokov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dimagiba.
Nabokov on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Nabokov is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Dimagiba's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Dimagiba's back!
Nabokov trying to control momentarily.
Dimagiba trying to control but not successfully.
Dimagiba trying to get back to his feet but Nabokov is in full control for now.
Dimagiba tries to break free.
Nabokov is trying to stick to Dimagiba's back but Dimagiba is turning into Nabokov. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Nabokov's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Dimagiba.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dimagiba with a nice head shot there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nabokov is on top in guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Dimagiba holds on and takes a little breather.
Nabokov won't allow Dimagiba to sweep him here.

Dimagiba is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nabokov defends well.
Dimagiba pulls Nabokov in to control the position.
Nabokov sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Dimagiba's guard.
Dimagiba is looking for a sweep. Nabokov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dimagiba is doing well to control the position and prevent Nabokov from advancing to side control.
Dimagiba is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Dimagiba pushes Nabokov off and gets back to his feet.
Dimagiba lands with an overhand left.
Dimagiba shoots in and drives through. Nabokov sprawls well.
Dimagiba shoots and misses
and Nabokov counters with a straight right hand.
Nabokov lands a jab-cross combination.

Nabokov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Nabokov has picked Dimagiba up - he's going for a ride! Nabokov dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
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!
Nabokov is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Dimagiba makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Nabokov tries for a takedown but Dimagiba sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nabokov looks for a takedown but Dimagiba sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nabokov tries to clinch there but Dimagiba circles away.
Dimagiba is looking to clinch but Nabokov is avoiding it.
Nabokov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Dimagiba.

Dimagiba drives through and clinches with Nabokov against the cage.
Dimagiba is working for takedown but Nabokov is calmly controlling the position for now.
Nabokov prevents the takedown attempt.
Dimagiba wants a takedown but no success here.
Dimagiba is pressed up against the cage. Nabokov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Dimagiba down to the mat. Dimagiba avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Dimagiba rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nabokov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Dimagiba misses with a series of wild punches.
Dimagiba fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Dimagiba dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nabokov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Dimagiba.
Nabokov has a takedown stuffed.
Dimagiba fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nabokov throws an off balance right hand
letting Dimagiba counter with a right hand.
Dimagiba goes for a double leg but Nabokov avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Nabokov continues to drive forward.
Dimagiba wants a takedown but no success here.
Igor Nabokov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juan Dimagiba.
Nabokov has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Dimagiba after a bit of a struggle.
Dimagiba misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Dimagiba is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Nabokov is defending well.
Dimagiba misses with a punch to the body.
Nabokov lands with a short shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dimagiba has Nabokov pressed against the cage, preventing Nabokov from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Dimagiba gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Nabokov.
Nabokov is pressed up against the cage. Dimagiba has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nabokov down to the mat. Nabokov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Dimagiba gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Nabokov to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Nabokov postures up in Dimagiba's guard and throws a big left but Dimagiba blocks it.
Nabokov throws a big right hand that misses.
Our spies down at at Blitzkrieg Fighting Systems: Ground inform us that Dimagiba has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Dimagiba lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nabokov!
Dimagiba lands a nice shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dimagiba lands a couple of good shots and Nabokov has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dimagiba lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Nabokov hold on?!
Dimagiba has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Dimagiba lands a shot to the body.
Can Nabokov hold on?! Dimagiba is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Dimagiba scores with punches from the back.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Dimagiba.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dimagiba lands punches and elbows.
Dimagiba connects with a big shot to the side of Nabokov's head.
Dimagiba keeps control of the position as Nabokov tries to break free.
Dimagiba is punishing Nabokov with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nabokov trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Dimagiba is landing with strikes from the back.

Nabokov is rocked!
Dimagiba softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Oh Nabokov is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Dimagiba slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Nabokov seems to have got his legs back now.
Dimagiba scores with strikes from the back.
Nabokov breaks Dimagiba's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Nabokov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Nabokov wants to control from the top but Dimagiba keeps moving.
Dimagiba wants to stand and escape but Nabokov is having none of it.
Nabokov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dimagiba swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Dimagiba manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dimagiba keeps control of Nabokov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Nabokov tries for a takedown. No joy.
Dimagiba has Nabokov pressed against the cage, preventing Nabokov from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Dimagiba can't get the takedown.
Dimagiba is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Nabokov is defending well.

Dimagiba gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Nabokov regains guard.
Dimagiba stands up over Nabokov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Dimagiba wants to control from the top but Nabokov keeps moving.
Nabokov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Dimagiba seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Dimagiba showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Dimagiba throws a series of strikes that have Nabokov backpedaling.
Dimagiba fails to land the takedown.
Nabokov tries to clinch but Dimagiba moves out of range.

Dimagiba closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Nabokov quickly recovers to half guard.
Dimagiba landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Nabokov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Dimagiba looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Nabokov with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Nabokov wants to improve his position but Dimagiba is controlling well.
Dimagiba sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nabokov defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nabokov is looking to improve his position.
Dimagiba drops an elbow to the side of Nabokov's head.
Dimagiba stalling.
Juan Dimagiba has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nabokov tries to roll over but Dimagiba keeps him under control.
Nabokov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Nabokov tries to get out of the position.
Nabokov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dimagiba.
Dimagiba is keen to just control but Nabokov is a slippery customer.
Nabokov has hold of Dimagiba's hands but Dimagiba slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Nabokov wants to improve his position but Dimagiba is controlling well.
Igor Nabokov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Dimagiba lands a nice short elbow.
Dimagiba scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Dimagiba throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Dimagiba looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Nabokov with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Dimagiba is thwarting Nabokov's attempts to control the position.
Dimagiba seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nabokov has hold of Dimagiba's hands but Dimagiba slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Dimagiba is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Dimagiba is nestled in close to Nabokov, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Dimagiba lands strikes from half guard.
Nabokov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dimagiba landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Dimagiba has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Dimagiba lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Still in half guard, Dimagiba seems content to control.
Nabokov is looking for a sweep. Dimagiba is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Dimagiba trying to control from half guard but Nabokov is working away.
Dimagiba winds up and cracks Nabokov with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Dimagiba is nestled in close to Nabokov, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Dimagiba throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Juan Dimagiba is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dimagiba winds up and cracks Nabokov with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Dimagiba drops an elbow to the side of Nabokov's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dimagiba working Nabokov over with strikes.
Dimagiba controlling the action here.
Dimagiba throwing shots but Nabokov is blocking nicely.
Dimagiba working Nabokov over with strikes.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Dimagiba connects with a nice short shot to Nabokov's temple.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Dimagiba thows a huge punch but Nabokov dodges it nicely.
Nabokov is looking to control Dimagiba's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nabokov avoid being mounted?
Dimagiba looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juan Dimagiba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Dimagiba 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juan Dimagiba!
Juan Dimagiba really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Hellraiser Fightgear ($10 and above) logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.