PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bram Nijhoff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shamsudin Khulagov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Nijhoff
vs
Khulagov

178 cm
22
165 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

178 cm
29
165 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bram Nijhoff!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Shamsudin Khulagov!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Saam Ante and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Nijhoff misses with a takedown attempt
and Khulagov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nijhoff fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nijhoff with a lazy takedown attempt
and Khulagov counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bram Nijhoff. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nijhoff shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Khulagov counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Nijhoff thinking.
Nijhoff shoots and misses
and Khulagov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nijhoff shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Khulagov defends it nicely.

Nijhoff scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
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.
Khulagov is looking to regain half guard here but Nijhoff keeps moving and retains side control.
We've been hearing that Nijhoff has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Nijhoff landing strikes.
Nijhoff scores with a couple of short elbows.
Khulagov takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Nijhoff lands some shots froms side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nijhoff cracks Khulagov with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Khulagov is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Ground and pound from Nijhoff.

Khulagov looking for submissions off his back.
Nijhoff lands strikes from half guard.
Khulagov wants to get back to full guard.

Khulagov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Khulagov has hold of Nijhoff's hands but Nijhoff slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Nijhoff working the head and body with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nijhoff scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Nijhoff slips a nice elbow through Khulagov's hands, connecting with Khulagov's forehead.
Khulagov is looking to improve his position.

Khulagov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Khulagov is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nijhoff 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.
Nijhoff working Khulagov over with strikes.
Nijhoff lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Khulagov on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Nijhoff there.
Khulagov is trying to get back to full guard.

Khulagov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Khulagov slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Nijhoff working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Khulagov's head.
Nijhoff lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Khulagov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nijhoff manages to get himself to full guard.
Nijhoff has a closed guard, preventing Khulagov from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nijhoff pushes Khulagov off and gets back to his feet.

Nijhoff scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Nijhoff slips a nice elbow through Khulagov's hands, connecting with Khulagov's forehead.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Khulagov taking some punishment here, with Nijhoff in his half guard.

Khulagov actively working from the bottom here.
Khulagov slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Nijhoff works over Khulagov with some ground and pound from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bram Nijhoff dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nijhoff doesn't succeed with the takedown
enabling Khulagov to counter with a crisp jab.
Bram Nijhoff is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nijhoff shoots in but no luck this time.
Nijhoff changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Khulagov tries to avoid it but Nijhoff manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Khulagov to the ground. Khulagov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bram Nijhoff. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nijhoff closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Nijhoff lands in his opponent's guard.

Khulagov working for a triangle but Nijhoff defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nijhoff lands a couple of elbows.
Nijhoff has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Nijhoff working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Khulagov's head.
Nijhoff postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Khulagov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nijhoff defends it easily.
Nijhoff is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Nijhoff with a nice head shot there.

Khulagov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Khulagov working for a triangle but Nijhoff defends it easily.

Khulagov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Nijhoff is in close to Khulagov's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Bram Nijhoff overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nijhoff avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Nijhoff works over Khulagov with some ground and pound from guard.

Khulagov working for a triangle but Nijhoff defends it easily.
Nijhoff content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Nijhoff postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Nijhoff landing with the ground and pound.
Nijhoff working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Nijhoff landing some decent shots from guard.
Nijhoff is in close to Khulagov's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Nijhoff is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Khulagov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Nijhoff chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Khulagov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nijhoff defends well.
Nijhoff lands a couple of digs.
Nijhoff working some strikes from top position.
Khulagov wants to sweep but no luck.
Nijhoff is working Khulagov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Nijhoff is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Khulagov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nijhoff won't allow Khulagov to sweep him here.
Nijhoff forces his way into half guard.
Nijhoff slips a nice elbow through Khulagov's hands, connecting with Khulagov's forehead.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nijhoff drops an elbow to the side of Khulagov's head.
Khulagov taking some punishment here, with Nijhoff in his half guard.
Khulagov wants to improve his position but Nijhoff is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nijhoff winds up and cracks Khulagov with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Khulagov moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Khulagov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nijhoff defends it easily.

Khulagov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Khulagov is breathing heavily.
Nijhoff postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Khulagov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nijhoff gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Nijhoff is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Nijhoff with a nice head shot there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Khulagov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nijhoff gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Nijhoff content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Nijhoff postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bram Nijhoff dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Nijhoff gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Khulagov counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Nijhoff is trying hard to land a takedown here. Khulagov sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Nijhoff fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bram Nijhoff. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nijhoff tries to score a power double leg takedown but Khulagov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nijhoff somewhat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nijhoff with a poor takedown
and Khulagov counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Nijhoff thinking.
Nijhoff shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Khulagov sprawls well. Khulagov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Nijhoff gets slowly back to his feet.
Nijhoff fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Nijhoff will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nijhoff with a lazy takedown attempt
and Khulagov counters with a stiff right hand.
Nijhoff looks for a takedown but Khulagov sprawls well.
Nijhoff fails with the takedown
and Khulagov counters with a left to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nijhoff fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nijhoff darts in looking for a takedown but Khulagov gets double underhooks and turns Nijhoff into the cage.
Khulagov is looking to break free of the clinch but Nijhoff has double underhooks.
Khulagov pushes Nijhoff back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Khulagov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shamsudin Khulagov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nijhoff closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Khulagov to the mat! Khulagov manages to get full guard.

Khulagov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nijhoff defends well.

Khulagov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nijhoff postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Nijhoff makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Nijhoff lands a couple of elbows.

Khulagov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nijhoff lands a couple of elbows.
Nijhoff lands a couple of digs.
Nijhoff working some strikes from top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Bram Nijhoff.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nijhoff, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bram Nijhoff!