PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Khabib Nurmagomedov (ranked 117 p4p, 225 weight class) and Jakov Pavlek (ranked 17 p4p, 34 weight class). Pavlek comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Cool Kids of Death - Czloweik Mucha kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! 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.

Nurmagomedov
vs
Pavlek

170 cm
28
162
12 - 6 - 0

170 cm
34
155
21 - 10 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Khabib Nurmagomedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jakov Pavlek!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Taro Takaoka and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pavlek clinches up with Nurmagomedov and pushes him back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Pavlek fails to land.
Pavlek prevents a body shot from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Pavlek's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Pavlek tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Nurmagomedov avoids it.
Pavlek misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pavlek lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Pavlek tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nurmagomedov.
Pavlek looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Nurmagomedov manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Pavlek is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pavlek tries to free his leg and advance position but Nurmagomedov is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov keeping moving, preventing Pavlek from controlling successfully.
Pavlek won't allow Nurmagomedov to sweep him here.
Nurmagomedov controls Pavlek momentarily but Pavlek frees himself.
Pavlek wants to control from the top but Nurmagomedov keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Pavlek rushes Nurmagomedov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A short left from Nurmagomedov.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nurmagomedov.
Pavlek throws a punch but it's blocked by Nurmagomedov.
I was talking to Nurmagomedov's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov blocking some punches.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov swings wildly with an uppercut but Pavlek uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pavlek blocks an uppercut.
Pavlek misses with an elbow strike.
Nurmagomedov lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Pavlek backwards.
Nurmagomedov throws a punch but it's blocked by Pavlek.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pavlek.
Pavlek tries to throw a body punch but Nurmagomedov avoids it by throwing Pavlek back against the cage.
Pavlek lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Nurmagomedov blocks a body shot from Pavlek.

Nurmagomedov jumps guard and drags Pavlek to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nurmagomedov trying to control the position.
Pavlek showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Pavlek really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nurmagomedov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Nurmagomedov is pulling down on Pavlek's head to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pavlek postures up.
Nurmagomedov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pavlek is one step ahead there.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Nurmagomedov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nurmagomedov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pavlek is one step ahead there.
Nurmagomedov wants to improve his position but instead Pavlek has moved into half guard.

That's four 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.
Nurmagomedov trying to control from the bottom.
Pavlek prevents Nurmagomedov from improving his position.
Pavlek is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nurmagomedov trying to hold on to Pavlek's head to control him but Pavlek postures up.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Pavlek is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jakov Pavlek will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nurmagomedov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Pavlek.
Pavlek lands with a straight right. Nurmagomedov didn't see that one coming.
Nurmagomedov lunges at Pavlek with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Pavlek's hand.

Pavlek gets a clinch.
Pavlek scores with a nice hook to the head.
Nurmagomedov can't find room to land a body shot as Pavlek controls the action.
Nurmagomedov tries to work over Pavlek's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Nurmagomedov is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Pavlek can't fight it off and eventually Nurmagomedov manages to take the fight to the floor. Pavlek looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Pavlek is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pavlek is keeping the position for now.
Pavlek working a defensive guard here.
Pavlek avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pavlek is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Nurmagomedov landing with the ground and pound.
Pavlek wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Pavlek holds on and takes a little breather.
Nurmagomedov tries to free his leg and advance position but Pavlek is retaining full guard.
Nurmagomedov being controlled here momentarily.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Pavlek misses with a right hand
and Nurmagomedov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nurmagomedov throws a jab but it's blocked by Pavlek.
Nurmagomedov lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Pavlek swings widly with a right hand
and Nurmagomedov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pavlek's jab looks to have found its range, popping Nurmagomedov under the eye.
Pavlek throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
An attempted straight right counter from Nurmagomedov misses the target.
Pavlek fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov lands with a shot to the body.
Pavlek lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Pavlek bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nurmagomedov walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Jakov Pavlek seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nurmagomedov on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Pavlek gets caught napping as Nurmagomedov dives in and scores a takedown. Pavlek manages to retain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pavlek working a defensive guard here.
Nurmagomedov postures up in Pavlek's guard and throws a big left but Pavlek blocks it.
Nurmagomedov wants to control from the top but Pavlek keeps moving.
Nurmagomedov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pavlek swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nurmagomedov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pavlek works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nurmagomedov is in close to Pavlek's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Khabib Nurmagomedov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pavlek looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nurmagomedov is one step ahead there.
Pavlek working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nurmagomedov.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Khabib Nurmagomedov dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Pavlek tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nurmagomedov was well out of range. Poor timing from Pavlek.
Nurmagomedov misses the jab.

Pavlek has Nurmagomedov up against the cage in a clinch.
Nurmagomedov blocks an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Pavlek - that landed with a thud.
Pavlek scores with a nice hook to the head.
Pavlek misses with a hook from the clinch.
Pavlek pushes Nurmagomedov back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short right from Pavlek.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmagomedov tries to throw a body punch but Pavlek avoids it by throwing Nurmagomedov back against the cage.
Pavlek tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Pavlek misses with a punch to the body.
Pavlek struggles to land a body shot inside as Nurmagomedov controls his hands.
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 Pavlek walks away with a smile on his face. Nurmagomedov gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A head kick misses from Pavlek.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pavlek has managed to clinch.
Pavlek blocks a body shot from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A right hook to the body lands for Pavlek.

Nurmagomedov jumps into guard, dragging Pavlek to the mat.
Nurmagomedov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pavlek is one step ahead there.
Nurmagomedov working a defensive guard here.
Pavlek trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pavlek controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Nurmagomedov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pavlek postures up.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Pavlek stopping the sweep attempt from Nurmagomedov.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Pavlek clinches up with Nurmagomedov and pushes him back against the cage.
Nurmagomedov has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Pavlek avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Nurmagomedov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Pavlek lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Nurmagomedov blocking some punches.

Nurmagomedov manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Nurmagomedov looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Pavlek has picked Nurmagomedov up and slammed him! Nurmagomedov can't keep hold of the triangle and Pavlek manages to pass to side control!
Nurmagomedov is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pavlek wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nurmagomedov keeps working.
Nurmagomedov is trying to control Pavlek's posture but Pavlek avoids it.
Pavlek tries to move into full mount but can't pass Nurmagomedov's legs.
Nurmagomedov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Pavlek wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Pavlek trying to control the position but Nurmagomedov is working away.
Nurmagomedov prevents Pavlek from improving position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Nurmagomedov tries to improve position but can't.
Pavlek advances nicely into full mount.
Nurmagomedov is looking to improve his position but Pavlek isn't that keen on the idea.
Pavlek controlling the position easily from mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nurmagomedov keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jakov Pavlek comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Pavlek has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29

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