PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Nuri Jafar (ranked 811 p4p, 43 weight class) and Matel Huchkov (ranked 1421 p4p, 74 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Jafar
vs
Huchkov

175 cm
24
145 lbs
17 - 8 - 0

170 cm
36
143 lbs
22 - 18 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

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 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nuri Jafar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matel Huchkov!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Jorge Garcia and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jafar throws a body shot but no joy.
Huchkov moves out of range as Jafar strikes.
Huchkov throws a head kick but Jafar moves out of range.
Huchkov misses the shot to the body.
Jafar is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Jafar defending well as Huchkov loads up on a big left hand.
Huchkov walks into a straight right hand from Jafar.
Jafar avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Huchkov throws a right hand that misses
and Jafar counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Huchkov ducks right into an uppercut from Jafar.
Huchkov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Jafar sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Jafar lands a right hook to the body.
Huchkov moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Huchkov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Jafar staying out of range there.
Jafar was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Jafar tests Huchkov's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Huchkov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Huchkov breaks the clinch.
Jab from Jafar.
Jafar tests Huchkov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Jafar lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Huchkov closes the distance and clinches.

Huchkov breaks from the clinch.

Jafar gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Huchkov prevents a body shot from Jafar.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Jafar.
I was talking to Jafar's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

Huchkov breaks from the clinch.

Huchkov looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Huchkov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Jafar is positioning himself well to prevent Huchkov advancing to mount.
Huchkov is trying to control. Jafar wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Huchkov not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jafar is concentrating on defense, preventing Huchkov from advancing position.
Huchkov is thwarting Jafar's attempts to control the position.
Huchkov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Jafar has one foot on Huchkov's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jafar ducks under a wild hook from Huchkov.
Huchkov sizes up Jafar with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Jafar gets a clinch.
Jafar misses with a hook from the clinch.
Huchkov tries for a takedown but Jafar manages to get underhooks.

Huchkov breaks from the clinch.
Huchkov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A punch lands to the side of Huchkov 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Jafar uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Huchkov.

Jafar darts in and clinches Huchkov up against the cage.
Jafar doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Huchkov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A punch combination from Huchkov misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Huchkov throws a head kick that misses.
Nice defenses there by Jafar.
A quick step to the side and Jafar tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
A jab from Jafar finds it's way through Huchkov's defenses.
Huchkov misses with a series of wild punches.
Nuri Jafar is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A shot to the liver by Jafar. Beautiful body shot.
Huchkov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Huchkov instigates a clinch.

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

Jafar pushes Huchkov up against the cage in a clinch.

Huchkov breaks from the clinch.
Huchkov goes for a double leg but Jafar avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Jafar continues to drive forward.
Jafar uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Huchkov.
Jafar fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Huchkov on the side of the head.
Jafar blocks a head kick by Huchkov.
Huchkov takes a shot to the body in his stride.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Huchkov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Jafar.
Jafar lands a nice looking body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jafar getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Huchkov throws an off balance right hand
and Jafar counters with a nice body shot.

Jafar clinches up with Huchkov and pushes him back against the cage.

Huchkov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jafar darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Jafar ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Jafar is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Jafar looks to score with a jab to the body but Huchkov is just out of range.
Jafar connects with the punch.
Jafar closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Jafar has a couple of punches blocked by Huchkov.
Jafar misses with the head strike.
Jafar tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Huchkov's elbow.
Huchkov lands with a short head shot on the inside.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Huchkov.
Huchkov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Huchkov manages to break the clinch.
Huchkov misses with a hook.
Huchkov throws a hook but Jafar avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nuri Jafar will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Jafar swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Jafar ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Huchkov moves away.
Jafar connects with a body shot.
Jafar throws a lazy right hand but Huchkov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Jafar rushes Huchkov and presses him up against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Jafar.
Huchkov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Jafar throws a head punch that misses.
Nuri Jafar has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Jafar tries a body shot but Huchkov blocks it.

Huchkov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jafar lands with a shot to the body.
Jafar has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Huchkov defending well as Jafar loads up on a big left hand.
Jafar connects with a crisp jab.
Huchkov tries to clinch but Jafar is having none of it.
Huchkov tries a head kick but it misses.
Jafar lands the left hand.
Huchkov throws a shot from downtown. Jafar moves away and avoids it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Jafar gets a clinch.

Huchkov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Huchkov fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jafar fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Huchkov manages to avoid it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Huchkov! But no joy.

Jafar clinches up with Huchkov and pushes him back against the cage.
Jafar tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Huchkov jumps guard but Jafar turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Jafar misses with some punches.
Jafar misses with a short punch on the inside.

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

Jafar takes the fight into the clinch.
Huchkov working aggressively here.
Jafar misses with some punches.
Jafar goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Huchkov breaks from the clinch.

Jafar fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Huchkov, pushing him back against the cage.
Huchkov blocking some punches.
Huchkov lands a shoulder strike.

Huchkov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Huchkov scores with a body shot.
Matel Huchkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Huchkov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jafar throwing a counter right hand but Huchkov manages to avoid it.
Huchkov doesn't manage to clinch there - Jafar circles away.
Jafar is looking to counter punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jafar throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Huchkov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nice straight punches there by Jafar. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Jafar.
Jafar throws a looping overhand right but Huchkov ducks down to avoid it.
Jafar connects with a nice looking jab.
Huchkov lands with an uppercut that bounces Jafar off the cage and back into range.
Huchkov misses with a hook.
Jafar lands a right hook to the body.
A shot to the liver by Jafar. Beautiful body shot.
Huchkov throws a hook to the side of Jafar's head but Jafar sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Jab, jab by Jafar - just one landing.
Jafar lands a really nice looking cross but Huchkov seems unphased.
Jab by Jafar.
Huchkov lands a glancing blow to the side of Jafar's head.
Nice sprawl there from Jafar as Huchkov shoots in.

Jafar rushes Huchkov and presses him up against the cage.

Huchkov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Jafar gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Huchkov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Huchkov takes a jab right on the kisser.

Huchkov drives through and clinches with Jafar against the cage.
Jafar doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Jafar misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Huchkov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Huchkov throws a shot from downtown. Jafar moves away and avoids it.
Jafar ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Huchkov moves away.

Jafar gets a clinch.

Huchkov breaks from the clinch.
Jafar misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Huchkov.
Huchkov fails in his attempt to clinch.
A jab from Huchkov misses.
Huchkov scores with a jab to the jaw.
Huchkov throws a shot to the body.
Huchkov misses with an uppercut
and Jafar counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Huchkov buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Huchkov shoots in for a takedown but Jafar shows good takedown defense.
Nuri Jafar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matel Huchkov.
Huchkov lands a jab.
No joy there for Huchkov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
It looked like Jafar was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Huchkov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jafar connects with a nice looking jab.
Huchkov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Jafar cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Jafar scores with a nice right hand.
Jafar misses with a hook. Huchkov ducked under it nicely.
Huchkov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Jafar with a hook.
Jafar dips to his left and cracks Huchkov with an uppercut!
Jafar dodges the punch combination from Huchkov.
Jafar swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Huchkov takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

Jafar forces Huchkov back against the cage and clinches.

Huchkov breaks the clinch.
Huchkov doesn't manage to clinch there - Jafar circles away.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jafar uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Huchkov.
Jafar looks to score with a jab to the body but Huchkov is just out of range.
Huchkov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jafar comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nuri Jafar dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Huchkov tries to clinch but Jafar moves out of range.
Jab by Jafar.
Jafar throws a looping overhand right but Huchkov ducks down to avoid it.
Huchkov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Jafar.
Some wild striking there from Huchkov.
Jafar lands with a shot to the body.
Jafar throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Huchkov misses with a double jab.
Huchkov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Jafar lands the left hand.

Jafar has taken the fight to the clinch.
Jafar tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Huchkov has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Jafar uses from the top position.

Jafar stands up and waves to Huchkov to follow him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Huchkov walks into a left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jafar closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Huchkov manages to pull guard.

Jafar stands and steps away. Huchkov gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Jafar connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A looping hook to the body misses from Jafar. Huchkov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Huchkov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jafar misses the shot to the body.
Huchkov throws out a counter right but Jafar avoids it with no problem.
Jafar ducks under a wild hook from Huchkov.
An attempted straight right counter from Jafar misses the target.
Jafar misses with a looping left.
Huchkov throws a series of punches but Jafar avoids them all with ease.
Jafar slips a straight right by Huchkov.
Jafar avoids the body shot from Huchkov.
Jafar connects with a nice looking jab.
Jafar misses the shot to the body.
Huchkov scores with the left hand. Jafar knows he should have avoided that one.
Huchkov lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Jafar is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jafar connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Oh Jafar is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab lands there for Jafar.
Jafar keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Huchkov has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Huchkov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Jafar seems to have got his legs back now.
Huchkov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jafar lands the left hand.
A lazy left from Jafar finds it's target.
Jafar checks a leg kick nicely.

Jafar has managed to clinch.
Huchkov takes a shot to the head.
Jafar goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Jafar's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Jafar misses with a punch on the inside.
Jafar has a couple of punches blocked by Huchkov.
Jafar struggles to land a body shot inside as Huchkov controls his hands.

Huchkov manages to break the clinch.
Huchkov is looking to clinch but Jafar is avoiding it.
Huchkov connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Jafar momentarily.
Jafar closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Huchkov wants to clinch
and Jafar counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Huchkov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Jafar staying out of range there.
Jafar cracks Huchkov with a good jab.
Jafar lands a glancing blow to the side of Huchkov's head.
Huchkov throws a big shot that misses.
Huchkov takes one on the button.
Jafar is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Huchkov can do to turn this around?

Jafar has closed the distance and engaged Huchkov in a clinch.
Jafar misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Huchkov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jafar ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Jafar works Huchkov's body with a nice hook.
Jafar uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Huchkov has time to react.
Jafar keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Huchkov.
Nuri Jafar is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Jafar dodges the punch combination from Huchkov.
Matel Huchkov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jafar lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jafar scores with a nice head shot.
Jafar scores with a hook to the body. Huchkov takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
A decent looking cross lands there for Huchkov.
Huchkov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Jafar paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Huchkov dives in for a single leg takedown but Jafar sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Nuri Jafar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matel Huchkov.
Jafar displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Huchkov throws out the jab.

Jafar rushes Huchkov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Huchkov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Jafar rushes Huchkov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Huchkov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Huchkov has closed the distance and engaged Jafar in a clinch.
Jafar misses with a body punch.
Huchkov's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A short right from Jafar.
Huchkov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Huchkov blocks an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Jafar.
Huchkov misses with a hook from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nuri Jafar showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Jafar, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nuri Jafar!
Nuri Jafar took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'where's my money'.