PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sajjad Gharibi (ranked 2319 p4p, 83 weight class) and Khabib Nurmagomedov (ranked 1300 p4p, 55 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Gharibi
vs
Nurmagomedov

183 cm
26
328 lbs
11 - 10 - 0

225 cm
30
300 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sajjad Gharibi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Khabib Nurmagomedov!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Wagner Zegers and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gharibi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nurmagomedov tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Gharibi throws a poor cross that misses

and Nurmagomedov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Nurmagomedov.
Gharibi looking to control.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Nurmagomedov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Gharibi is pulling down on Nurmagomedov's head to control his posture.
Nurmagomedov is pushing down on Gharibi's leg trying to pass to half guard. Gharibi is fighting to maintain full guard but Nurmagomedov has managed to sneak the leg through.
Nurmagomedov is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Gharibi on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Gharibi tries to get out of the position.
Gharibi trying to hold on to Nurmagomedov's head to control him but Nurmagomedov postures up.
Gharibi preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Gharibi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nurmagomedov on the ground.
Ground and pound from Nurmagomedov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmagomedov looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Nurmagomedov working the head and body with strikes.
Gharibi is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Nurmagomedov scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gharibi trying to control from the bottom.
Nurmagomedov controlling the action here.
My spies in Jitz MMA inform me that Nurmagomedov has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Gharibi trying to hold on to Nurmagomedov's head to control him but Nurmagomedov postures up.
Gharibi is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Nurmagomedov scores with a couple of nice shots.
Nurmagomedov prevents Gharibi from improving his position.
Nurmagomedov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Nurmagomedov working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Nurmagomedov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Nurmagomedov performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Gharibi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Gharibi won't allow Nurmagomedov to pass to mount.
Gharibi is looking to control Nurmagomedov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gharibi avoid being mounted?
Nurmagomedov slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Nurmagomedov connects with a nice short shot to Gharibi's temple.
Nurmagomedov perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Let's hope that Nurmagomedov 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.
Gharibi wants to control but Nurmagomedov is keeping busy.
Nurmagomedov drops an elbow to the side of Gharibi's head.
Gharibi is looking for a sweep. Nurmagomedov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nice strikes from Nurmagomedov there.
Gharibi is looking to control Nurmagomedov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gharibi avoid being mounted?
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gharibi is positioning himself well to prevent Nurmagomedov advancing to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nurmagomedov is nestled in close to Gharibi, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Gharibi is trying to maintain the position but Nurmagomedov is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov stalling.
Gharibi trying to hold on to Nurmagomedov's head to control him but Nurmagomedov postures up.
Nurmagomedov passes to side control.
Gharibi is trying to escape the position but Nurmagomedov is controlling the position.
Gharibi is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Gharibi tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nurmagomedov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Nurmagomedov working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Nurmagomedov taking a breather here.
Nurmagomedov has knee on belly and moves into mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Gharibi tries to lock up and control but Nurmagomedov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Nurmagomedov cracks Gharibi with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Nurmagomedov punishing his opponent with strikes.
Nurmagomedov controlling from the full mount.
Nurmagomedov raining down hammerfists from mount.
Gharibi is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nurmagomedov raining down hammerfists from mount.
Nurmagomedov controlling from the full mount.
Gharibi wants to hold on but Nurmagomedov pushes him away.
Nurmagomedov controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khabib Nurmagomedov dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gharibi lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

It looks like Khabib Nurmagomedov has been cut.
Sajjad Gharibi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gharibi falls off balance throwing a combination

so Nurmagomedov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Gharibi working a defensive guard here.
Nurmagomedov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Nurmagomedov scoring with some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmagomedov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nurmagomedov landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gharibi is trying to keep Nurmagomedov in close.
Nurmagomedov content to stall in guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nurmagomedov distracts Gharibi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Gharibi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Nurmagomedov is working Gharibi over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Gharibi trying to control the position.

That's two 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.
Nurmagomedov working some strikes from top position.
Nurmagomedov chips away with some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Nurmagomedov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Nurmagomedov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Nurmagomedov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gharibi is keeping the position for now.
Khabib Nurmagomedov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gharibi trying to keep a closed guard but Nurmagomedov is proving a slippery customer.
Nurmagomedov landing some decent shots from guard.
Nurmagomedov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gharibi controls Nurmagomedov momentarily but Nurmagomedov frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov with a nice head shot there.
Gharibi trying to keep a closed guard but Nurmagomedov is proving a slippery customer.
Nurmagomedov stays in close to Gharibi's body and controls the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Nurmagomedov postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Gharibi throws out a loose jab but Nurmagomedov uses good head movement to avoid it.
A lazy left from Gharibi finds it's target.
Gharibi misses with a looping left.
Nurmagomedov feints the counter takedown.
We've been told by Gharibi's head coaches at Holding Cell that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gharibi.
Nurmagomedov slips a jab and a cross from Gharibi.
Nurmagomedov drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Gharibi defends it well.
Gharibi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nurmagomedov moves away.
Sajjad Gharibi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gharibi misses with an uppercut. Nurmagomedov saw that one coming.
Gharibi misses with a straight right.
Gharibi throws a body shot but no joy.
Nurmagomedov tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Gharibi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nurmagomedov ducks under a wild hook from Gharibi.
Nurmagomedov drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Gharibi defends it well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gharibi misses with a series of wild punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khabib Nurmagomedov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Khabib Nurmagomedov's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Gharibi misses with the combination.
Nurmagomedov tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Gharibi misses with a lunging right hand

and Nurmagomedov counters with a nice double leg into side control. Gharibi won't be happy with that.
A lull in the action here as Nurmagomedov stalls from top position.
Nurmagomedov connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Gharibi some visible discomfort.
Gharibi can't do much from the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmagomedov lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Nurmagomedov takes a little break here. Gharibi wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Gharibi tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nurmagomedov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Nurmagomedov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nurmagomedov creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
You can see the frustration on Gharibi's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gharibi is letting Nurmagomedov control him for a moment.
Nurmagomedov cracks Gharibi with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Nurmagomedov working the head and body with strikes.
Gharibi takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Nurmagomedov advances to full mount.
Nurmagomedov controlling from the full mount.
Nurmagomedov avoids the attempt from Gharibi to control.
Sajjad Gharibi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gharibi is in a horrible position here. Nurmagomedov smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Nurmagomedov is landing with some decent strikes but Gharibi is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Nurmagomedov controlling from mount.
Nurmagomedov working Gharibi over with strikes here.
Nurmagomedov landing strikes from the mount.
Gharibi tries to lock up and control but Nurmagomedov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Nurmagomedov lands a big shot to the head and Gharibi winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Khabib Nurmagomedov!
Khabib Nurmagomedov thanked the fans post fight for their support.