PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Billy Turner (ranked 6929 p4p, 2701 weight class) and Khamzat Nurmaputinov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Billy Turner has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Turner
vs
Nurmaputinov

185 cm
26
135
2 - 5 - 0

163 cm
25
130
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Billy Turner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Khamzat Nurmaputinov!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Bart Greer and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Turner scores with a decent looking hook.

Nurmaputinov scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Nurmaputinov is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Turner reverses the position - he's now on top in Nurmaputinov's guard.
Turner would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Nurmaputinov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Turner defends well.
Turner will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nurmaputinov is on top in guard.

Nurmaputinov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nurmaputinov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Turner wants to stand and escape but Nurmaputinov is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmaputinov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Nurmaputinov throwing strikes but missing.
Nurmaputinov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Turner preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Nurmaputinov looking to pass the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nurmaputinov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Nurmaputinov landing some decent shots from guard.
Nurmaputinov 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.
Nurmaputinov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Turner swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nurmaputinov won't allow Turner to get back to his feet.
Nurmaputinov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Turner is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Island Training Centre that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turner wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Nurmaputinov manages to pass to side control.
Nurmaputinov is looking to advance position but Turner won't allow it.
Nurmaputinov controlling the action here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
A punch combination from Turner misses.
Turner throws a right and a left that Nurmaputinov avoids nicely.
Turner throws a body shot but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Turner misses.
Turner misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Nurmaputinov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Turner is breathing heavily.
Turner preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Nurmaputinov content to stall in guard here.
Nurmaputinov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nurmaputinov passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Nurmaputinov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Nurmaputinov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khamzat Nurmaputinov dominated that round.
That's time! Turner's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Turner falls off balance throwing a combination

and Nurmaputinov counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Nurmaputinov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Turner swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nurmaputinov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nurmaputinov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Khamzat Nurmaputinov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Turner avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmaputinov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nurmaputinov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nurmaputinov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmaputinov stops Turner from standing up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Turner leaves Nurmaputinov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Nurmaputinov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Nurmaputinov lands in his opponent's guard.
Nurmaputinov advances position into side control!
Nurmaputinov takes a little break here. Turner wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Nurmaputinov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurmaputinov scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Turner to see if he's OK.
Nurmaputinov working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Nurmaputinov in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Nurmaputinov throwing strikes but Turner manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
You can see the frustration on Nurmaputinov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
We've been informed that Nurmaputinov has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Nurmaputinov gets back to half guard.
Nurmaputinov slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmaputinov is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Nurmaputinov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Turner can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Turner really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Nurmaputinov wants to sweep but no luck.

Nurmaputinov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Turner doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Turner manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Nurmaputinov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nurmaputinov winds up and cracks Turner with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nurmaputinov controlling the action here.
Turner blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nurmaputinov.
Nurmaputinov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khamzat Nurmaputinov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Turner lands a nice shot to the body.
Nurmaputinov tries to clinch there but Turner circles away.
Nurmaputinov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Turner fails to land with a series of punches.
Turner misses with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The crowd cheers as Turner lands an impressive looking overhand right. Nurmaputinov doesn't seem phased though.
Turner throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Nurmaputinov moves into the clinch.

Turner's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nurmaputinov misses with a takedown attempt
and Turner counters with a straight right hand.
Billy Turner is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nurmaputinov shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Nurmaputinov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Nurmaputinov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nurmaputinov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Turner with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Nurmaputinov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Nurmaputinov is looking for a kimura here.

Nurmaputinov seems to be working for a kimura but Turner defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nurmaputinov seems to be looking for submissions.
Nurmaputinov landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Turner on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Nurmaputinov trying to control the pace.
Turner is trying to stand up here but Nurmaputinov is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nurmaputinov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Turner defends it well.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nurmaputinov lands a nice short elbow.
Nurmaputinov is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Nurmaputinov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nurmaputinov thows a huge punch but Turner dodges it nicely.
Still in half guard, Nurmaputinov seems content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nurmaputinov wants to free his trapped foot but Turner is holding on for dear life with his legs.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nurmaputinov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Khamzat Nurmaputinov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nurmaputinov 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 27:30
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Khamzat Nurmaputinov!