PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Abdulhassan Nurmanov (ranked 4177 p4p, 24553 weight class) and Wanderlei Shogun (ranked 507 p4p, 676 weight class). The key to victory for Abdulhassan Nurmanov has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Nurmanov
vs
Shogun

189 cm
25
210
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
205
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Abdulhassan Nurmanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Wanderlei Shogun!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, James Glass and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shogun throws a head kick but Nurmanov moves out of range.

Nurmanov instigates a clinch.
Nurmanov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Shogun.

Shogun manages to break the clinch.
Shogun fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nurmanov throws a big counter combination but Shogun scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Nurmanov fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Shogun looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Nurmanov takes the fight into the clinch.
Nurmanov has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Nurmanov lands with a light punch inside.
Nurmanov lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Shogun backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shogun's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Shogun tries to close the distance and clinch but Nurmanov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nurmanov moves away from the strike by Shogun.

Nurmanov closes the distance and clinches.

Shogun's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Shogun swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Nurmanov counters with a left and a right that stings Shogun.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shogun tries to keep at a distance but Nurmanov has taken the fight into the clinch.
Nurmanov manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Nurmanov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Nurmanov lands a knee to the body.
Nurmanov leaning against his opponent.

Shogun breaks from the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Nurmanov stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Nurmanov stalling the fight.

Shogun breaks from the clinch.

Nurmanov darts in and clinches Shogun up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shogun breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shogun looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Nurmanov instigates a clinch.
Nurmanov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Shogun.
Nurmanov lands a hook that snaps the head of Shogun backwards.
Nurmanov stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Nurmanov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
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!
Shogun tries a head kick but it misses.
Shogun tries to land a body kick
and Nurmanov counters with a three punch combo that has Shogun backing up. Shogun nods at Nurmanov to acknowledge the strikes.
Nurmanov keeps the fight on the outside.
Nurmanov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Shogun avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Abdulhassan Nurmanov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shogun lands a nice hook to Nurmanov's body. Nurmanov takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Nurmanov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nurmanov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nurmanov has closed the distance and engaged Shogun in a clinch.

Shogun breaks the clinch.
No joy there for Nurmanov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Shogun throws a sloppy head kick and Nurmanov moves out of range easily.
Shogun fails in his attempt to clinch.
Abdulhassan Nurmanov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Nurmanov drives through and clinches with Shogun against the cage.

Shogun pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shogun tries a head kick but it misses.
Nurmanov keeps the fight on the outside.

Shogun gets tackled into the cage by Nurmanov. Nurmanov maintains the clinch.
Shogun's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Shogun breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nurmanov lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Nurmanov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Nurmanov drives through and clinches with Shogun against the cage.
Nurmanov working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Nurmanov.

Shogun breaks from the clinch.
Nurmanov keeps the fight on the outside.

Nurmanov clinches up against the cage.
Shogun drops down looking for an ankle pick but Nurmanov pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nurmanov throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Shogun jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

It looks like Abdulhassan Nurmanov has been cut.

Nurmanov clinches up with Shogun and pushes him back against the cage.

Shogun breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shogun throws a series of punches but Nurmanov moves out of range.
Nurmanov is looking to clinch but Shogun is avoiding it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdulhassan Nurmanov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Abdulhassan Nurmanov's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nurmanov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shogun paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shogun tries to bum rush Nurmanov with a series of wild strikes but Nurmanov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Shogun doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Nurmanov counters with a nice uppercut.
Shogun fails with an attempt to clinch.

Nurmanov drives through and clinches with Shogun against the cage.
Nurmanov lands a hook to the side of the head.

Nurmanov breaks from the clinch.
Nurmanov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shogun can do to turn this around?
The fight stays on the outside here - Nurmanov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Shogun fails to land the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmanov is looking to clinch.
Shogun with the counter takedown but Nurmanov avoids it easily.
Shogun shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nurmanov pinned against the cage. Nurmanov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nurmanov throws a big counter combination but Shogun scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Abdulhassan Nurmanov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wanderlei Shogun.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nurmanov takes the fight into the clinch.

Nurmanov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Abdulhassan Nurmanov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Shogun gets tackled into the cage by Nurmanov. Nurmanov maintains the clinch.

Shogun breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shogun misses with an attempted mid kick.
Nurmanov works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Nurmanov wants to clinch up but Shogun keeps it at a distance.
Nurmanov lands a nice looking kick to the body. Shogun takes a step back to recover.
Shogun shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nurmanov pinned against the cage. Nurmanov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nurmanov instigates a clinch.
A knee to the head by Nurmanov.
Nurmanov lands with a right to the head.
Nurmanov lands a right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Nurmanov lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Nurmanov.

It looks like Wanderlei Shogun has been cut.
Nurmanov softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Nurmanov is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Nurmanov lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Abdulhassan Nurmanov has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Nurmanov scores with a shoulder strike.
Shogun jumps guard but Nurmanov stands there with Shogun around his waist. Shogun gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Shogun breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmanov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Shogun manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Shogun throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nurmanov.
Nurmanov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Shogun feints the counter takedown.

Shogun instigates a clinch.
Nurmanov lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Nurmanov lands an elbow inside that Shogun shrugs off.
Nurmanov lands an elbow inside that Shogun shrugs off.
A bit of stalling here from Nurmanov.

Shogun breaks the clinch.

Nurmanov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Shogun, pushing him back against the cage.
Nurmanov slowing the pace effectively.
Nurmanov throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Shoguns head.
Shogun takes a shot to the head.

Nurmanov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A combination from Nurmanov does no damage.
Nurmanov is looking to clinch.
And Shogun tries to counter it with a takedown but Nurmanov pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nurmanov has taken the fight to the clinch.

Nurmanov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Nurmanov gets a clinch.
Nurmanov effectively controlling the action here.
Shogun managing to block the knees to the body from Nurmanov.
Shogun throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Nurmanov.

Nurmanov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nurmanov tries to clinch up.
Shogun throws a nice looking combination but Nurmanov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Shogun is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Nurmanov.
Nurmanov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shogun swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Shogun tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Nurmanov defends well and Shogun ends up having to push Nurmanov into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdulhassan Nurmanov dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Nurmanov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Shogun is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Shogun throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Nurmanov counters with a two punch combo.
Nurmanov is looking to clinch but Shogun is avoiding it.
Nurmanov moves out of range as Shogun throws a body kick.
It looked like Nurmanov was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Shogun misses with a double jab.

Nurmanov closes the distance and clinches.
Nurmanov content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Shogun breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Nurmanov moves into the clinch.

Nurmanov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmanov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shogun paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shogun gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Nurmanov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Nurmanov moves into the clinch.

Shogun breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmanov misses with a wild combination.
Shogun darts in trying to clinch
and Nurmanov counters with a left and a right that stings Shogun.

Nurmanov has closed the distance and engaged Shogun in a clinch.

Shogun's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Shogun moves into the clinch.

Shogun pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Nurmanov drives through and clinches with Shogun against the cage.
Nurmanov scores a nice knee to the body.
Shogun takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Nurmanov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nurmanov is looking to clinch.
Shogun tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Nurmanov looks to land a combination but Shogun avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nurmanov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Shogun's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nurmanov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Shogun tries to keep at a distance but Nurmanov has taken the fight into the clinch.
Nurmanov lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Nurmanov breaks the clinch.
Shogun takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Wanderlei Shogun has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shogun is the more experienced fighter here and he's going to need to draw on some of that experience if he's going to pull this one out the bag.
Nurmanov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Shogun manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Shogun feints the counter takedown.
Shogun rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nurmanov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Nurmanov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Nurmanov tries to land knees in the clinch but Shogun avoids the damage to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmanov slowing the pace effectively.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Nurmanov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Shogun pushes off an throws an elbow but Nurmanov leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Shogun tries to land knees in the clinch but Nurmanov avoids the damage to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Nurmanov.
Shogun blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Nurmanov working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Nurmanov working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Shogun wants a takedown.
Shogun tries to work over Nurmanov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Nurmanov controlling the action here for a moment.
Nurmanov trying to control the position but instead, Shogun has worked for underhooks and has pushed Nurmanov into the cage.
Shogun misses with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Nurmanov.
Nurmanov dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Nurmanov scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Shogun has a couple of punches blocked by Nurmanov.

Shogun's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nurmanov wants to clinch up but Shogun keeps it at a distance.
Shogun looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A nice combination there by Nurmanov.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A combination from Shogun does no damage.
Nurmanov checks a leg kick.
Nurmanov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Abdulhassan Nurmanov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Nurmanov closes the distance and clinches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Abdulhassan Nurmanov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nurmanov has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Richard Clark scores the fight for Abdulhassan Nurmanov!
Judge James Glass scores the fight for Abdulhassan Nurmanov!
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight for Abdulhassan Nurmanov!

Abdulhassan Nurmanov wins by unanimous decision!