PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Sugen Nagi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shamil Zavurov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Shamil Zavurov was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Nagi
vs
Zavurov

167 cm
19
130 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

175 cm
25
135 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sugen Nagi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Shamil Zavurov!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zavurov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Nagi to the mat! Nagi manages to get full guard.

Nagi is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Zavurov defends well.
Zavurov thows a big elbow that misses.
Zavurov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nagi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zavurov.
Zavurov with a flurry of punches that miss.

Nagi manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Zavurov shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Nagi manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Nagi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Nagi keeping moving, preventing Zavurov from controlling successfully.

Nagi is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Zavurov is aware though and is defending well.
Nagi is breathing heavily.
Zavurov trying to control but Nagi is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zavurov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Zavurov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zavurov throwing strikes from guard but Nagi blocks nicely.
Zavurov throwing strikes from guard but Nagi blocks nicely.

Zavurov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Zavurov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Nagi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zavurov tries to free his leg and advance position but Nagi is retaining full guard.

Nagi has his foot on Zavurov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zavurov works his way back into a safe position though.

Nagi looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Nagi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zavurov.
Nagi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zavurov.
Zavurov postures up in Nagi's guard and throws a big left but Nagi blocks it.
Zavurov wants to control from the top but Nagi keeps moving.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Zavurov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nagi is keeping the position for now.

That's two 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.
Nagi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Nagi keeping full guard, as Zavurov tries to pass.
Nagi wants to sweep but no luck.
Zavurov trying to control the position from guard on top but Nagi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zavurov stands up over Nagi, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Zavurov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zavurov thows a big elbow that misses.
Nagi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zavurov.
Zavurov throws and elbow that misses. Nagi uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zavurov's guard. Nice move by Nagi!

Nagi got a little sloppy there for a moment and Zavurov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nagi has managed to get both his arms back between Zavurov's legs - danger averted.

Zavurov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nagi is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nagi passes Zavurov's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Nagi controlling the action here.
Nagi trying to control the action but Zavurov is working from the bottom.
Zavurov wants to get back to full guard.
Nagi is trying to control the action in half guard but Zavurov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Nagi not doing much here.

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.
Zavurov gets back to full guard.
Nagi wants to control from the top but Zavurov keeps moving.
Zavurov will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Nagi is pushing down on Zavurov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Zavurov is fighting to maintain full guard but Nagi has managed to sneak the leg through.
Zavurov throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Zavurov is defending against the submission attempts here by Nagi.
Zavurov wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shamil Zavurov dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Zavurov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Nagi gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Zavurov to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Nagi working for a triangle but Zavurov defends it easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Zavurov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Zavurov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Zavurov postures up.
Zavurov throwing strikes from guard but Nagi blocks nicely.
Zavurov thows a big elbow that misses.
Zavurov with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zavurov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Zavurov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zavurov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Zavurov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zavurov is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Zavurov trying to control the position from guard on top but Nagi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Zavurov is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Nagi is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Nagi has escaped and now he's on top!

Nagi postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Zavurov is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Nagi, into his guard.

Zavurov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zavurov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nagi is on top in guard.
Zavurov trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Nagi wants to pass the guard but Zavurov is keeping the position.
Shamil Zavurov has got the better of the ground game so far.

Zavurov pushes a forearm under Nagi's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Nagi is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:49 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Shamil Zavurov!