PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Nation (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mookie Magaba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Magaba is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Three Days Grace - Animal I Have Become . Nikolai Nation had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 147.0lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Nation
vs
Magaba

180 cm
31
162 lbs
12 - 12 - 0

171 cm
37
146 lbs
22 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nikolai Nation!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 16 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mookie Magaba!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Chris Edwards and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Magaba staying out of range there.
Nation pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nation sizes up Magaba with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Nation lands an overhand right.
A left lands for Nation.
Magaba looks to land a combination but Nation avoids it well.
Nation throws a poor cross that misses

and Magaba counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Magaba thows a huge punch but Nation dodges it nicely.
Magaba tries to pass to full mount but Nation defends it.
Nation trying to control here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Magaba wants to pass the guard but Nation is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Magaba seems to be looking for submissions.
Nation avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Magaba.

Magaba is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Nation is just riding it out for now. Magaba eventually gives up the hold.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Magaba seems to be looking for submissions.
Nation moves into full guard.

Magaba drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Nation manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Magaba has Nation in his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nation preventing the sweep.
Nation is looking to stand up but Magaba won't let him.
Magaba looking for a sweep. Not yet Magaba, not yet.

Nation avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Magaba is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Magaba looks to land a strike but Nation avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Magaba advances position into side control!

Magaba wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Nation, who protects the arm well.
Nation is trying to control Magaba's posture but Magaba avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nation tries to improve position but can't.

Magaba is trying to get an arm triangle but Nation is defending well.

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

Magaba goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Nation rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Magaba's guard! Nice work there by Nation!
Nation advances position into side control!
Magaba tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Magaba manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Magaba moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nation preventing the sweep.
Magaba keeps trying to improve his position.
Nation is looking to stand up but Magaba won't let him.
Nation trying to control the position from guard on top but Magaba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Nation avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Nation wants to control from the top but Magaba keeps moving.
Magaba bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nation's guard.

A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Magaba accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Magaba advances position into side control!
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!

Magaba goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Nation rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Magaba's guard! Nice work there by Nation!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mookie Magaba 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.

Nation lands a nice hook to Magaba's body. Magaba takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Jab, jab by Nation - just one landing.

Magaba scores with a takedown into Nation's guard.
Magaba pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nation is keeping the position for now.

Magaba is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Nation is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Nation has escaped and now he's on top!

Magaba wants to sweep here but Nation controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magaba lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Magaba postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nation utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magaba slips nicely into half guard.
Magaba is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Magaba looking to pass the guard.
Magaba is working Nation over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Magaba trying to move into half guard but instead Nation has managed to sweep!

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Magaba is on top in guard.

Magaba has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Magaba postures up in Nation's guard and throws a big left but Nation blocks it.
Magaba slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Magaba goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Nation rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Magaba's guard! Nice work there by Nation!
Magaba wants to sweep but no luck.
Mookie Magaba has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Magaba is on top in guard.

Magaba throwing strikes from guard but Nation blocks nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Magaba loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Magaba wants to pass the guard but Nation is keeping the position.
Magaba is looking to advance position but Nation has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Magaba is looking to get to half guard.
Magaba slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Magaba works his way to full guard. Good work.
Magaba keeping moving, preventing Nation from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magaba looking for a sweep. Not yet Magaba, not yet.

Magaba working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Nation doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Magaba is tightening it up a little... Nation has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Nation reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Nation taps out! Nice BJJ there by Magaba!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:27 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Mookie Magaba!
During a confident post fight interview, Mookie Magaba thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.