PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kurou Nishiyama (ranked 3390 p4p, 4107 weight class) and Magomed Omarov (ranked 408 p4p, 465 weight class). Magomed Omarov told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Nishiyama
vs
Omarov

183 cm
24
167
5 - 4 - 0

178 cm
23
175
2 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Silverguard Outfitters 🛡
Furnace Performance 🔥

Furnace Performance 🔥
Fantasy Threads

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kurou Nishiyama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Magomed Omarov!
The judges for this bout are Ron Honeybunn, Summer Carpenter and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Omarov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Omarov shoots in and gets a takedown into Nishiyama's guard.
Omarov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Nishiyama is adopting a defensive guard.
Omarov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nishiyama is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nishiyama trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Omarov wants to control from the top but Nishiyama keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Omarov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Nishiyama is trying to control the position but Omarov postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nishiyama stuffs the takedown attempt from Omarov. Omarov gets slowly back to his feet.
No joy there for Omarov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Omarov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Nishiyama defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Nishiyama is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nishiyama misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nishiyama fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Omarov looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Nishiyama doesn't manage to clinch there - Omarov circles away.
Omarov lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Nishiyama pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nishiyama connects with the punch.
Omarov pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Omarov takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Omarov walks into a straight right hand from Nishiyama.
Omarov tries for a takedown but Nishiyama sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kurou Nishiyama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Magomed Omarov.

Omarov scores with a takedown into Nishiyama's guard.

Nishiyama wriggles free and stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Nishiyama.
Nishiyama misses with the body kick

and Omarov counters with a nice double leg into side control. Nishiyama won't be happy with that.

Nishiyama explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Nishiyama looks to land a combination but Omarov avoids it well.
Nishiyama pulls out of a head kick attempt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nishiyama misses with a body kick.
Omarov doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Omarov blocks a leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nishiyama. Omarov does a little dance to reset his feet.

Omarov pushes Nishiyama up against the cage in a clinch.
Nishiyama jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Omarov walks away with a smile on his face. Nishiyama gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nishiyama swings widly with a right hand
and Omarov counters with a stiff right hand.
Nishiyama pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Omarov shoots in but Nishiyama avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nishiyama swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Despite the aggression on Omarov's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Nishiyama fails with the takedown
and Omarov counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Nishiyama thinking.
Omarov connects with a single shot there.
Nishiyama throws an overhand right that lands on Omarov's shoulder, as Omarov tries to avoid the shot.
Omarov shoots in for a takedown but Nishiyama shows good takedown defense.
Omarov moves away from the strike by Nishiyama.
Nice uppercut lands for Nishiyama. That snapped Omarov's head back.
Nishiyama misses with a head kick.
Nishiyama looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Omarov avoids a kick to the body.
Nishiyama misses with a low kick.
Omarov is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

Nishiyama gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Nishiyama is trying to push Omarov away but Omarov has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Omarov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Nishiyama avoids it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kurou Nishiyama dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Omarov throws a nice looking combination but Nishiyama bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Omarov closes the distance and clinches.
Nishiyama wants to get back to striking at distance but Omarov won't allow it.

Omarov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Omarov tries to close the distance and clinch but Nishiyama swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Nishiyama instigates a clinch.
Omarov has Nishiyama pushed against the cage.
Nishiyama blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Omarov 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.

Nishiyama clinches.
Omarov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Nishiyama fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Nishiyama misses with a head kick.
Nishiyama is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Omarov can do to turn this around?

Nishiyama throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Omarov was covering up waiting for the punch and Nishiyama finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Omarov kicks Nishiyama off and gets to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nishiyama buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Omarov takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A low kick from Nishiyama is predictable there

and Omarov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Nishiyama's guard.
Omarov with a nice head shot there.
My spies in 3Band MMA inform me that Omarov has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Omarov tries to free his leg and advance position but Nishiyama is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Nishiyama throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Omarov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nishiyama has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Omarov is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Nishiyama.
Omarov scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Nishiyama to see if he's OK.
Omarov is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Omarov in side control lands a decent elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nishiyama struggling a bit here.
Omarov working the body and head with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Omarov passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Nishiyama!
Omarov lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Nishiyama hang on?
Omarov looking to control and managing it successfully.
Nishiyama wants to get back to his feet.
Nishiyama wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
What can Nishiyama do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Let's hope that Omarov has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nishiyama is really stuck here.
Omarov is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Magomed Omarov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Omarov avoids the head kick by Nishiyama.
Nishiyama fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Omarov has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Omarov takes a swing at Nishiyama's ribcage but misses.
Nishiyama takes a swing at Omarov's ribcage but misses.
Nishiyama attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Nishiyama throws a nice looking combination but Omarov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Omarov shoots for a takedown but Nishiyama saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nishiyama misses with an uppercut.
Omarov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Nishiyama sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Omarov somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Omarov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Nishiyama sprawls well. Nishiyama wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Omarov gets slowly back to his feet.
Kurou Nishiyama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Magomed Omarov.
Omarov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Nishiyama sprawls well. Nishiyama wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Omarov gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nishiyama misses with a low kick.
Omarov dives in for a single leg takedown but Nishiyama sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
A thudding body kick lands there by Nishiyama!
A solid leg kick lands there for Nishiyama.
Omarov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nishiyama sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Omarov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Omarov walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Nishiyama scores with a nice body kick.
Nishiyama throws a body kick that misses.
Nishiyama tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nice takedown defense from Nishiyama. No joy for Omarov on that attempt.
Some wild striking there from Nishiyama.
Nishiyama stuffs the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nishiyama throws a half hearted mid kick.
Nishiyama throws a push kick but Omarov slaps the foot to one side.

Nishiyama has closed the distance and engaged Omarov in a clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Omarov manages to break the clinch.
Omarov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Nishiyama but Nishiyama pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nishiyama throws a leg kick which misses Omarov's front leg but catches the back leg as Omarov tries to avoid it.
Kurou Nishiyama is winning the standup battle so far.

Omarov has managed to clinch.
Nishiyama misses with a punch to the body.

Omarov works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Magomed Omarov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Omarov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Nishiyama looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Omarov landing some decent shots from guard.
Omarov wants to control from the top but Nishiyama keeps moving.
Nishiyama is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Omarov dives into side control.
You can see the frustration on Nishiyama's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Omarov decides to stand back up. Omarov steps back and let's Nishiyama get back to his feet.
Omarov slips a jab and a cross from Nishiyama.
A head kick by Nishiyama misses

and Omarov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Omarov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Nishiyama throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kurou Nishiyama showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Nishiyama has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 29:28
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kurou Nishiyama!