PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Leben (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Khabib Nurmagomedov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Leben
vs
Nurmagomedov

179 cm
21
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
25
162 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anthony Leben!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Khabib Nurmagomedov!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Cecil Peabody and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nurmagomedov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Nurmagomedov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Nurmagomedov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Leben swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Leben is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Nurmagomedov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
It looks like Nurmagomedov might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Nurmagomedov tries to free his leg and advance position but Leben is retaining full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nurmagomedov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Leben's head.
Nurmagomedov is looking to work some ground and pound but Leben has wrist control.
Nurmagomedov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Nurmagomedov controlling from the top position.

Leben is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nurmagomedov is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leben trying to keep a closed guard but Nurmagomedov is proving a slippery customer.
Nurmagomedov wants to control from the top but Leben keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nurmagomedov with a nice head shot there.
Leben wants to stand but Nurmagomedov is controlling the position.
Nurmagomedov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Nurmagomedov wants to control from the top but Leben keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Khabib Nurmagomedov hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
A looping hook to the body misses from Leben. Nurmagomedov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jab, jab by Leben - just one landing.

Nurmagomedov gets a double leg takedown into Leben's guard.

Leben 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.
Leben is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nurmagomedov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Nurmagomedov stands and throws Leben's legs to the side, diving into side control.
You can see the frustration on Leben's face as Nurmagomedov controls the position.
Nurmagomedov cracks Leben with a big elbow.
Nurmagomedov scores with punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov landing strikes.
Nurmagomedov is looking to take a break and control but Leben is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nurmagomedov lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Leben down.
Nurmagomedov staying calm.
Leben is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Leben can't do much from the bottom here.

Nurmagomedov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Nurmagomedov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov grinds an elbow into Leben's temple.
Nurmagomedov tries to advance to mount but Leben denies him.

Nurmagomedov is trying to get an arm triangle but Leben is defending well.
Leben wants to get back to his feet.
Leben tries to improve position but can't.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Nurmagomedov looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nurmagomedov working the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khabib Nurmagomedov dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Nurmagomedov circles away from the clinch attempt

so Nurmagomedov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Nurmagomedov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Nurmagomedov stands and throws Leben's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Nurmagomedov working the ground and pound from side control.
Leben tries to escape but Nurmagomedov is in control.

Nurmagomedov looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Nurmagomedov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Leben keeps working.
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!
Nurmagomedov cracks Leben with a big elbow.
Nurmagomedov working the ground and pound from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nurmagomedov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Leben has escaped the position, nice work there.
Nurmagomedov landing strikes.
Nurmagomedov lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

Nurmagomedov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Leben, who protects the arm well.
Leben is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Nurmagomedov has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nurmagomedov lands a nice forearm strike.

Nurmagomedov tries for a kimura but Leben is defending well.

Nurmagomedov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Leben is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leben looks to move to half guard but instead Nurmagomedov has passed into mount! Damn!
Leben regains half guard.
Nurmagomedov prevents Leben from standing back up.
Nurmagomedov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Leben is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Nurmagomedov scores with a couple of nice shots.
Nurmagomedov working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Nurmagomedov content to control rather than advance.
Nurmagomedov looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Nurmagomedov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Leben. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nurmagomedov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Leben defends it well.
Leben tries to kick Nurmagomedov off but Nurmagomedov keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Leben taking some punishment here, with Nurmagomedov in his half guard.
Nurmagomedov trying to control from half guard but Leben is working away.
Nurmagomedov is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Nurmagomedov working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Leben trying to hold on to Nurmagomedov's head to control him but Nurmagomedov postures up.
Khabib Nurmagomedov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nurmagomedov is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Leben is looking to control Nurmagomedov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Leben avoid being mounted?

Nurmagomedov is looking for a kimura here.
Leben wants to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nurmagomedov is looking to advance position but Leben won't allow it.

Leben is defending against the submission attempts here by Nurmagomedov.
And that’s 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.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Leben shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Nurmagomedov counters with a nice body kick.
Leben darts in trying to clinch

and Nurmagomedov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Nurmagomedov.

Leben escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nurmagomedov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Nurmagomedov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Nurmagomedov working some strikes from top position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nurmagomedov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Leben swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nurmagomedov working some strikes from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov 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.
Nurmagomedov wants to pass the guard but Leben is keeping the position.
Nurmagomedov stands up over Leben, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Nurmagomedov landing some decent shots from guard.
Nurmagomedov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Leben is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Nurmagomedov landing some decent shots from guard.
Nurmagomedov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Leben is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov wants to control from the top but Leben keeps moving.

Nurmagomedov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nurmagomedov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Nurmagomedov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Leben's head.
Nurmagomedov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nurmagomedov is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Nurmagomedov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Nurmagomedov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nurmagomedov postures up and lands a big shot to Leben's brow.
Nurmagomedov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nurmagomedov wants to pass the guard but Leben is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov distracts Leben with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Nurmagomedov trying to control but Leben is working from the bottom.
Nurmagomedov prevents Leben from getting back to his feet.
Nurmagomedov controlling from the top position.

Nurmagomedov drops back looking for a leg! Leben is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Leben manages to kick Nurmagomedov off! Nurmagomedov jumps back into Leben's guard.
Nurmagomedov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Anthony Leben has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Leben is keeping the position for now.
Nurmagomedov is working Leben over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Nurmagomedov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Leben is keeping the position for now.

Nurmagomedov is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Leben is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Leben has escaped and now he's on top!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Leben is fighting to break Nurmagomedov's control of his arms but Nurmagomedov is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Khabib Nurmagomedov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Khabib Nurmagomedov!