PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zachary Klimenko (ranked 6 p4p, 171 weight class) and Khabib Nurmagomedov (ranked 1 p4p, 24 weight class). Klimenko comes to the cage accompanied by WEED & MEMORIES. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Klimenko
vs
Nurmagomedov

182 cm
30
190
20 - 3 - 0

178 cm
43
190
31 - 12 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Conviction
© Trap House

NARCOS
Senshi Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zachary Klimenko!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Khabib Nurmagomedov!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Percy O'Donnell and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nurmagomedov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Klimenko throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Nurmagomedov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nurmagomedov on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Klimenko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Nurmagomedov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Klimenko scores with a hook to the body. Nurmagomedov takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Klimenko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nurmagomedov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Zachary Klimenko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nurmagomedov stuns Klimenko with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Nurmagomedov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Klimenko.
Klimenko lands a jab to the head.

It looks like Khabib Nurmagomedov has been cut.
Nurmagomedov has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Nurmagomedov lands a jab.
Nurmagomedov missing with a left hand there. Klimenko was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nurmagomedov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Klimenko cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Klimenko misses with a left hand
letting Nurmagomedov counter with a right hand.
Klimenko has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Convicted Fight Club in the buildup to the fight.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Nurmagomedov slips a straight right by Klimenko.
Nurmagomedov jabs Klimenko right on the nose. Klimenko blinks but takes it well.
Nurmagomedov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A counter left hand to the body from Klimenko misses its target.

Klimenko moves into the clinch successfully.
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!
Klimenko lands a left hand.
Nurmagomedov lands a right hand that snaps the head of Klimenko backwards.
Nurmagomedov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Klimenko fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Zachary Klimenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov just misses with a punch to the body.
Klimenko swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Klimenko takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Klimenko has closed the distance and engaged Nurmagomedov in a clinch.
Nurmagomedov has Klimenko pressed against the cage.

Nurmagomedov pulls guard successfully.

Nurmagomedov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Klimenko is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nurmagomedov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Klimenko defends well.
Nurmagomedov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nurmagomedov wants to sweep here but Klimenko controlling him for the moment.

Nurmagomedov working for a triangle but Klimenko defends it easily.
Klimenko postures up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Zachary Klimenko will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Khabib Nurmagomedov's cut.
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.

Klimenko lands a front kick.
Decent striking displayed by Nurmagomedov there.
Nurmagomedov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nurmagomedov circles away from the clinch attempt
and Nurmagomedov counters with a right hand to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Klimenko moves to clinch but Nurmagomedov breaks away
and Nurmagomedov counters with a stiff right hand.
Nurmagomedov swats away the attempt to clinch by Klimenko.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Klimenko lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Nurmagomedov has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Nurmagomedov and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Nurmagomedov! But no joy.
Khabib Nurmagomedov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nurmagomedov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Klimenko was well out of range. Poor timing from Nurmagomedov.
A jab from Klimenko misses.
Nurmagomedov slips a straight right by Klimenko.
Nurmagomedov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nurmagomedov tries for a takedown but Klimenko circles away easily
and Klimenko cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov with a jab.
Nurmagomedov takes a swing at Klimenko's ribcage but misses.
Nurmagomedov checks the leg kick nicely there.
Klimenko fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nurmagomedov manages to avoid it.
Nurmagomedov takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Nurmagomedov takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Klimenko has managed to clinch.
Nurmagomedov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Nurmagomedov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Nurmagomedov.
Klimenko lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Nurmagomedov backwards.
Nurmagomedov effectively controlling the action here.
Nurmagomedov blocks a body shot from Klimenko.
Nurmagomedov wants to get back to striking at distance but Klimenko won't allow it.
Nurmagomedov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Klimenko just stands there and leans against the cage.
Nurmagomedov tries to throw a body punch but Klimenko avoids it by throwing Nurmagomedov back against the cage.
Klimenko fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Klimenko gets through Nurmagomedov's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Klimenko fails to land.
Nurmagomedov's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Klimenko throws a punch but it's blocked by Nurmagomedov.
Klimenko digs a right hand underneath Nurmagomedov's ribcage. Nurmagomedov let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Klimenko tries to throw a body punch but Nurmagomedov avoids it by throwing Klimenko back against the cage.
Klimenko scores a nice knee to the body.
Klimenko misses with a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Nurmagomedov manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Klimenko lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nurmagomedov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Klimenko scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Nurmagomedov breaks from the clinch.
The fighters circle, before Klimenko throws a beautiful high kick that crashes into Nurmagomedov's neck, sending him stumbling to the floor! Klimenko lands more strikes and forces a referee stoppage! That one ended in an instant!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Kick & Punches). Zachary Klimenko!
Zachary Klimenko retains his middleweight title!
An out of breath Zachary Klimenko thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
In defeat, Khabib Nurmagomedov stepped up to the mic, saying 'Hats off mate. 43 y.o lightweight steppin in 5 days notice against current #1 p4p middleweight. All the best.'.