PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dmitry Nugzarov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pablo Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Nugzarov
vs
Rivera

168 cm
25
154 lbs
9 - 3 - 1

160 cm
25
155 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Russian Mob Nutrition (159 Recovery - $150)
Russian Mob Nutrition (159 Recovery - $150)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 1, fighting out of New York, Dmitry Nugzarov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pablo Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Reed Andrews and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivera digs a good body shot into Nugzarov's ribs.
Rivera misses with a two punch combination.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nugzarov. Rivera does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rivera throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nugzarov wants to land a leg kick but Rivera is out of range.
Nugzarov throws a sloppy body shot
and Nugzarov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nugzarov moves away from the strike by Rivera.
Nugzarov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nugzarov misses with a looping right.
Rivera throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nugzarov.
Rivera shoots in but no luck this time.
Nugzarov looks to land a left hand but Rivera moved out of range nicely.
Nugzarov changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nugzarov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nugzarov throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Nugzarov loads up on a big right hand but Rivera slips the punch.
Nugzarov lands a nice looking body shot.
Rivera misses with a jab to the body
letting Nugzarov counter with a right hand.
Nugzarov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rivera was well out of range. Poor timing from Nugzarov.
Nugzarov lands with a thumping leg kick.
A big right from Rivera misses.
Rivera keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nugzarov throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rivera stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nugzarov walks into a straight right hand from Rivera.
Rivera scores with a shot to the body.
Nugzarov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rivera moves away.
Rivera avoids the body shot from Nugzarov.
Nugzarov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rivera.
Nugzarov throws a shot to the body.
Nugzarov is looking to wear down Rivera with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Nugzarov punishes Rivera's body with a nice straight punch.
Nugzarov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Dmitry Nugzarov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rivera tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nugzarov was well out of range. Poor timing from Rivera.
Rivera slips a jab from Nugzarov.
Rivera looks to score with a jab to the body but Nugzarov is just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the body from Rivera misses
and Nugzarov counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Nugzarov cracks a nice hook into Rivera's ribs.
Nugzarov throws a nice outside leg kick.
Rivera doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Rivera throws a sloppy body shot
and Nugzarov counters with a left to the body.
Nugzarov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rivera moves away.
Nugzarov misses with a body punch
and Rivera makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Rivera misses the body punch
and Nugzarov counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Nugzarov ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Rivera throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nugzarov. Rivera does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rivera avoids the body shot from Nugzarov.
Nugzarov lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Rivera on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A big right from Rivera misses.
Pablo Rivera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nugzarov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rivera.
Rivera fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Nugzarov avoids it really well and circles away.
Nugzarov misses the shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dmitry Nugzarov dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nugzarov comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Nugzarov defending well as Rivera loads up on a big left hand.
Nugzarov scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Nugzarov lands a nice looking body shot.
Nugzarov dips to his left and cracks Rivera with an uppercut!
Rivera gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Nugzarov counters with a nice body shot.
Rivera dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nugzarov misses with a low kick.
Nugzarov just misses with a punch to the body.
Nugzarov throws a hook but Rivera blocks it.
Dmitry Nugzarov is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Nugzarov throws and low kick but Rivera moves out of range easily.
Nugzarov misses the shot to the body.
Nugzarov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rivera was well out of range. Poor timing from Nugzarov.
Nugzarov misses the shot to the body.
Nugzarov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nice defenses there by Nugzarov.
Rivera swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Nugzarov counters with a nice body shot.
Rivera tries for a takedown but Nugzarov circles away easily
and Nugzarov counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera falls off balance throwing a combination
and Nugzarov counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Rivera throws a predictable looking body shot
and Nugzarov counters with a right hand to the body.
Nugzarov lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rivera's sensitive parts.
Rivera swings away with a body shot that misses
and Nugzarov counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Rivera is breathing heavily.
Nugzarov lands a nice shot to the body.
Nugzarov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rivera was well out of range. Poor timing from Nugzarov.
Rivera walks into a stiff left hand from Nugzarov.
A shot to the body from Rivera misses
and Rivera takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nugzarov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera misses with a body shot
and Nugzarov counters with a one-two to the body.
Nugzarov looks to score with a jab to the body but Rivera is just out of range.
Nugzarov smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Nugzarov looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rivera tries to move into range but Nugzarov moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Nugzarov lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Nugzarov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nugzarov throws a body punch but Rivera moves out of range.
Rivera misses with a body punch
and Nugzarov counters with a left to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Rivera misses the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nugzarov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nugzarov just misses with a punch to the body.
Rivera with a lazy takedown attempt
and Nugzarov counters with a nice uppercut.
Dmitry Nugzarov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pablo Rivera.
Nugzarov lands an overhand right.
Rivera is trying desperately to land a takedown but Nugzarov is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Rivera.
Nugzarov lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rivera's sensitive parts.
Nugzarov thows a body shot but no joy.
Rivera misses with a hook.
A shot to the body from Rivera misses
and Nugzarov counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nugzarov thows a body shot but no joy.
Nugzarov thuds a left hand into Rivera's body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dmitry Nugzarov dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Nugzarov cracks a nice hook into Rivera's ribs.
Nugzarov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rivera was well out of range. Poor timing from Nugzarov.
Some wild striking there from Nugzarov.
Nugzarov misses the shot to the body.
Rivera throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Nugzarov on the side of the head.
Nugzarov throws a right and a left that both miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivera scores with a jab to the body.
Rivera avoids the body shot from Nugzarov.
Rivera walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nugzarov stuns Rivera with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Rivera connects with a nice looking jab.

Rivera shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Rivera was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The referee warns Nugzarov that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Nugzarov's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Rivera throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Rivera working the ground and pound effectively.
Rivera wants to control the pace but Nugzarov is squirming around nicely.
Pablo Rivera has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera throws a sloppy strike and Nugzarov uses the opportunity to reverse the position! A bit of a scramble here and Nugzarov has ended up in Rivera's guard.

Rivera is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rivera takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nugzarov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Nugzarov trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nugzarov wants to stand but Rivera has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera wants to sweep here but Nugzarov controlling him for the moment.
Nugzarov wants to stand but Rivera is controlling his posture from full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rivera steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nugzarov.
Nugzarov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A slapping leg kick lands for Nugzarov.
Nugzarov swings away with a body shot that misses
and Rivera counters with a right hand to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rivera misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Nugzarov makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Nugzarov misses with a body shot.
Nice defenses there by Rivera.
Rivera shoots in for a double leg but Nugzarov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nugzarov has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Nugzarov there as he acknowledges the shot.
Rivera's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Nugzarov throws a good cross that connects.
Nugzarov just misses with a punch to the body.
Nugzarov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rivera was well out of range. Poor timing from Nugzarov.
Rivera shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nugzarov as he jumps to the side.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pablo Rivera comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nugzarov 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dmitry Nugzarov!