PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Aku Serronen (ranked 546 p4p, 636 weight class) and Khabib Nurmagomedov (ranked 83 p4p, 96 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Nurmagomedov's choice of entrance music: Dagestan (Remix). This should be fireworks!

Serronen
vs
Nurmagomedov

185 cm
36
178
28 - 20 - 1

178 cm
37
175
25 - 7 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
SynCity Fightwear

Brooklyn Apothecary

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 28 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Aku Serronen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Khabib Nurmagomedov!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Hirohito Nitta and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Serronen thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Nurmagomedov if he has to take too many more of those.
Nurmagomedov misses with a takedown attempt
and Serronen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

It looks like Khabib Nurmagomedov has been cut.
Nurmagomedov avoids a kick to the body.
Serronen throws a low kick, looking for Nurmagomedov's leg but Nurmagomedov calmly moves out of range.

Serronen lands a big uppercut and Nurmagomedov crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Nurmagomedov looks OK. Serronen waves Nurmagomedov back to his feet!

Nurmagomedov is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A lazy body kick from Serronen
and Nurmagomedov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Serronen 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.
Serronen tries a head kick but it misses.
A nice side step and Nurmagomedov releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Nurmagomedov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Serronen.
Nurmagomedov checks the leg kick nicely there.
Serronen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Serronen lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A big right from Serronen misses.
Despite the aggression on Nurmagomedov's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
A slapping body kick lands there for Serronen.
Aku Serronen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Serronen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Serronen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nurmagomedov.
It looked like Serronen was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov throws a right hand that Serronen ducks under and follows up with a left that Serronen also avoids with ease.
Nurmagomedov moves out of range of the strikes.
Serronen throws a head kick but Nurmagomedov moves out of range.
Nurmagomedov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Serronen.
Nurmagomedov throws out a counter right but Serronen avoids it with no problem.
Nurmagomedov uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Nurmagomedov closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Serronen throws a chopping leg kick but Nurmagomedov manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Nurmagomedov misses with a hook to the body
and Serronen counters with a nice uppercut.
Serronen scores with a decent looking hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nurmagomedov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Serronen counters with a nice body shot.
Serronen with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Nurmagomedov to score with a decent uppercut.
Serronen lands a jab.
Serronen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A low kick from Serronen misses
and Nurmagomedov counters with a left and a right that stings Serronen.
Serronen misses with a head kick.
Nurmagomedov swings for the body but Serronen moves out of range.
Nurmagomedov on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Serronen scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Serronen is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Serronen lands a big uppercut and Nurmagomedov crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Nurmagomedov looks OK. Serronen waves Nurmagomedov back to his feet!
Nurmagomedov is still on wobbly legs! Can Serronen finish him?
A big right from Serronen misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Serronen sends Nurmagomedov crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Serronen is motioning to the referee to let Nurmagomedov up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!
Nurmagomedov lands a right hook to the body.
Nurmagomedov cracks Serronen with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Serronen avoids the body shot from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov moves out of range of the body kick.
Nurmagomedov seems to have recovered his senses.

Nurmagomedov gets the takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nurmagomedov is trying to ground and pound but Serronen uses the momentary lack of control by Nurmagomedov to regain half guard.
Serronen desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Serronen trying to hold on to Nurmagomedov's head to control him but Nurmagomedov postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Nurmagomedov with the ground and pound but Serronen uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Serronen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nurmagomedov is one step ahead there.
Nurmagomedov throwing strikes from guard but Serronen blocks nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nurmagomedov is fighting to break Serronen's control of his arms but Serronen is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Nurmagomedov wants to control from the top but Serronen keeps moving.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aku Serronen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Khabib Nurmagomedov'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.

Nurmagomedov jabs at Serronen's body.
A leg kick checked by Nurmagomedov.
A bone on bone clash there as Nurmagomedov blocks the leg kick.
Serronen with the inside leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Serronen.
Serronen throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Nurmagomedov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Serronen throws a good cross that connects.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmagomedov moves forwards but Serronen connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Serronen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nurmagomedov manages to avoid it.
Serronen does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Nurmagomedov misses with a right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov lands with a right hand.
Nurmagomedov swinging wildly here.
Serronen appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
A leg kick checked by Nurmagomedov.
A punch lands to the side of Serronen 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Serronen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A nice side step and Nurmagomedov releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Serronen scores with a jab to the jaw.

That has opened up Khabib Nurmagomedov's cut even more.
Nurmagomedov slips under a jab.
Nurmagomedov misses with an uppercut. Serronen saw that one coming.
A swing and a miss from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Serronen thuds his right hand into Nurmagomedov's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
A head kick misses from Serronen.
As Serronen backs off Nurmagomedov throws a huge counter combo but Serronen manages to avoid it all.
Nurmagomedov throws a jab but it's blocked by Serronen.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nurmagomedov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Serronen.
Serronen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nurmagomedov can do to turn this around?
Nurmagomedov avoids the head kick by Serronen.
Nurmagomedov throws a right hand that Serronen ducks under and follows up with a left that Serronen also avoids with ease.
Nurmagomedov misses the jab.

Nurmagomedov closes the distance and pushes Serronen back into the cage.
Serronen throws a punch but it's blocked by Nurmagomedov.
Serronen swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Nurmagomedov ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Nurmagomedov no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Serronen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nurmagomedov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nurmagomedov has his hands on Serronen's head, controlling the position.
Serronen trying to control but Nurmagomedov is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Serronen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nurmagomedov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Serronen tries to free his leg and advance position but Nurmagomedov is retaining full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Nurmagomedov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Serronen misses with a straight left.
Nurmagomedov now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Serronen takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Serronen misses the shot to the body.
Nurmagomedov looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Nurmagomedov looks to score with a jab to the body but Serronen is just out of range.
Serronen is looking to counter punch.
Decent striking displayed by Serronen there.
Aku Serronen is winning the standup battle so far.
Nurmagomedov looks for a takedown but Serronen sprawls well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Aku Serronen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Khabib Nurmagomedov's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Serronen takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Serronen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Nurmagomedov misses with a hook.
Nice straight punches there by Serronen. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Serronen.
Serronen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Nurmagomedov's sensitive parts.
Serronen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Nurmagomedov.
A big left from Nurmagomedov misses.
Serronen looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmagomedov takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Nurmagomedov scores with a nice strike.
Serronen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nurmagomedov now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Serronen lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Serronen avoids the body shot from Nurmagomedov.
A combination from Nurmagomedov does no damage.
Serronen throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Nurmagomedov feints the counter takedown.
Nurmagomedov slips under a jab.
Nurmagomedov throws out a counter right but Serronen avoids it with no problem.
A nice leg kick from Serronen, right into the meat of the thigh.
Serronen walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Serronen connects with a solid leg kick.
Good exchange - Serronen coming out on top.
Serronen fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Nurmagomedov has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Serronen throws a head kick that misses
and Serronen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Serronen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Serronen throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Serronen working aggressively here.
Serronen working aggressively here.
Nurmagomedov blocks an uppercut.
Serronen is working Nurmagomedov over against the cage.
Nurmagomedov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Serronen can't find room to land a body shot as Nurmagomedov controls the action.
Serronen prevents Nurmagomedov from breaking the clinch.
Nurmagomedov blocks a body shot from Serronen.
Serronen misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Serronen lands a body punch in the clinch.
Serronen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Nurmagomedov tries to throw a body punch but Serronen avoids it by throwing Nurmagomedov back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov wants to break free but Serronen has control.
Nurmagomedov's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Serronen misses with a body punch.
Serronen has a couple of punches blocked by Nurmagomedov.
Khabib Nurmagomedov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Serronen swings wildly with an uppercut but Nurmagomedov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nurmagomedov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Serronen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Serronen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Serronen working aggressively here.
Nurmagomedov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nurmagomedov trying to stall but Serronen improves his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Serronen.
Serronen misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Serronen fails to land.
Serronen lands a right hand that snaps the head of Nurmagomedov backwards.
Nurmagomedov scores with a nice hook to the head.
Serronen blocks an uppercut.
Serronen blocks a body shot from Nurmagomedov.
A short right from Serronen on the inside.
Nurmagomedov jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Serronen walks away with a smile on his face. Nurmagomedov gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Aku Serronen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nurmagomedov ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Nurmagomedov displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Serronen ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Serronen misses with a looping left.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aku Serronen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Serronen, 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aku Serronen!
During a confident post fight interview, Aku Serronen thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.