PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Khebabib Nurmagomegov (ranked 6054 p4p, 504 weight class) and Aie Thai (ranked 5125 p4p, 478 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nurmagomegov
vs
Thai

171 cm
22
165 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

182 cm
22
160 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Good gas tank

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Khebabib Nurmagomegov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Aie Thai!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Ben Hemmingworth and Chris Dean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thai connects with an inside leg kick.

Thai clinches up with Nurmagomegov and pushes him back against the cage.
Thai looking to slow down the pace here.
Thai with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Khebabib Nurmagomegov has been cut.
Nurmagomegov looking for a takedown.

Nurmagomegov gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Thai is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Nurmagomegov presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Nurmagomegov has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Thai clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Thai wants to get back to his feet.
Nurmagomegov punches Thai on the ear.
Nurmagomegov biding his time, looking for the opening.
Thai is trying to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good control from Nurmagomegov.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nurmagomegov lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Nurmagomegov controlling the positon.
Thai trying to get back to his feet but Nurmagomegov is in full control for now.
Nurmagomegov scores with punches from the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomegov has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Thai's body.
Can Thai hold on?! Nurmagomegov is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Nurmagomegov trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Thai doesn't escape.
Thai is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Nurmagomegov lands strikes to the head.
Nurmagomegov slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thai is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Thai is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Nurmagomegov is riding his opponent, not letting Thai buck him off.
Thai is trying to get back to his feet but Nurmagomegov has full control of the position and if anything, Thai has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Thai takes a big shot to the side of the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Good control from Nurmagomegov.
Thai is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Thai grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thai is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Thai manages to escape to his feet.

Nurmagomegov shoots in and gets a takedown into Thai's guard.
Nurmagomegov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Thai wants to get back to his feet but Nurmagomegov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Nurmagomegov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Nurmagomegov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khebabib Nurmagomegov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Khebabib Nurmagomegov's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nurmagomegov lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Thai closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Nurmagomegov pressing his opponent against the cage.
Thai with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Thai looking to throw knees to the head but Nurmagomegov is blocking nicely.
Nurmagomegov stalling against the cage.
Thai gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Nurmagomegov.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Thai misses with a knee to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thai misses with a knee to the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Nurmagomegov - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Thai lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Nurmagomegov dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomegov is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Thai's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Thai letting Nurmagomegov take a breather here.
Thai connects with a knee to the head.

Nurmagomegov gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Thai wants to get back to his feet.
Thai has hold of Nurmagomegov's hands but Nurmagomegov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Nurmagomegov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Nurmagomegov working Thai over with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thai is looking to escape.
Nurmagomegov scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Nurmagomegov prevents Thai from standing back up.
Well, if Nurmagomegov is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Nurmagomegov 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thai is trying to stand up here but Nurmagomegov is controlling him well.
Nurmagomegov keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

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

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Nurmagomegov avoiding damage.
Nurmagomegov just leaning against Thai, taking a breather.
A knee to the head by Thai.
Nurmagomegov wants to take the fight to the mat but Thai manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Thai creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Nurmagomegov's defenses.
Thai throws an elbow that misses.
Nurmagomegov blocks the elbow strike.
Nurmagomegov holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Thai with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Thai.
Thai landing knees to the body.
Nurmagomegov managing to block the knees to the body from Thai.
Thai is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Nurmagomegov is keeping busy.
Thai tries to land a knee to the head but Nurmagomegov blocks with his arms.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Nurmagomegov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Nurmagomegov shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Thai manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Thai wants to stand up but Nurmagomegov is controlling him.
Thai looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Nurmagomegov controls from within his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Aie Thai will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Khebabib Nurmagomegov's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Thai clinches up with Nurmagomegov and pushes him back against the cage.
Nurmagomegov is stalling here.
Thai tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Thai misses with a knee to the head.
Nurmagomegov is trying to stall.
Thai comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Thai gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Thai lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Thai with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Thai tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Nurmagomegov avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmagomegov tries a body shot but Thai blocks it.
Nurmagomegov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Thai trying to land knees to the body.
Nurmagomegov displaying some good clinch control by pressing Thai up against the cage.
Thai lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Thai misses with an elbow strike.
A knee to the head by Thai.
Thai looking to throw knees to the head but Nurmagomegov is blocking nicely.
Nurmagomegov avoids the elbow strike from Thai, against the cage.

Nurmagomegov has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Thai is trying to keep an underhook but Nurmagomegov manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Nurmagomegov takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Nurmagomegov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Nurmagomegov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Nurmagomegov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Nurmagomegov slips a nice elbow through Thai's hands, connecting with Thai's forehead.
Nurmagomegov trying to control the pace.
Thai is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomegov controlling the action here.
Nurmagomegov seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Thai for as long as he can get away with.
Thai is trying to stand back up but Nurmagomegov is controlling him
Nurmagomegov not doing much here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Nurmagomegov drops an elbow to the side of Thai's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomegov prevents Thai from standing back up.
Nurmagomegov controlling the pace.

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

Thai closes the distance and clinches.
Thai is pressed up against the cage. Nurmagomegov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Thai down to the mat. Thai avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Aie Thai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Thai forces Nurmagomegov back against the cage and clinches.
Thai with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Thai.
Thai is trying to stall.
Thai tries to land knees in the clinch but Nurmagomegov avoids the damage to the body.

Nurmagomegov lands a takedown into guard.
Thai has momentary wrist control but Nurmagomegov slips an elbow through the middle.
Khebabib Nurmagomegov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thai can't keep his opponent in guard - Nurmagomegov advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomegov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Nice strikes from Nurmagomegov there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nurmagomegov not doing much here.
Ground and pound from Nurmagomegov.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aie Thai comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Thai 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aie Thai!