PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Alexi Litchkov (ranked 5850 p4p, 483 weight class) and Khabib Nurmagomedov (ranked 5679 p4p, 476 weight class). Both these guys are coming into the fight with injuries so let's see if that has a bearing on the fight. Khabib Nurmagomedov has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Alexi Litchkov's chin.

Litchkov
vs
Nurmagomedov

172 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

179 cm
22
155 lbs
10 - 12 - 0

Excellent MT
Very strong

Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Alexi Litchkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 12 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Khabib Nurmagomedov!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Litchkov - that will leave a mark!
Nurmagomedov lands a jab-cross combination.
Nurmagomedov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nurmagomedov looks winded!
Litchkov scores with a decent looking hook.
Litchkov misses with a low kick.
Litchkov throws a series of punches but Nurmagomedov moves out of range.
Litchkov works the jab nicely.
Litchkov with a nice calf kick.
Litchkov has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nurmagomedov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nurmagomedov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Litchkov throws out the jab.
A combination from Nurmagomedov does no damage.
Litchkov feints and then cracks Nurmagomedov's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Nurmagomedov down.
Litchkov takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Litchkov misses with a low kick as Nurmagomedov jumps back.
Litchkov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Litchkov lands a jab to the nose.
Nurmagomedov misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
That kick from Litchkov tenderised Nurmagomedov's leg. Nurmagomedov is trying to keep his angry face on.
Nurmagomedov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nurmagomedov throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Litchkov connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Nurmagomedov checks a leg kick.
Nurmagomedov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nurmagomedov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nurmagomedov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Litchkov moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Nurmagomedov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Litchkov.
A low kick lands for Litchkov.
Nurmagomedov fails to land with a series of punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Litchkov lands a nice looking kick to the body. Nurmagomedov takes a step back to recover.
Nurmagomedov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Litchkov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nurmagomedov throws a right hand that Litchkov ducks under and follows up with a left that Litchkov also avoids with ease.
Litchkov throws a nice outside leg kick.
A combination from Nurmagomedov does no damage.
Nurmagomedov throws a right hand that Litchkov ducks under and follows up with a left that Litchkov also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Litchkov fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Litchkov throws a leg kick that misses.
Some bone on bone action there as Nurmagomedov checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Litchkov looks to land a right hand but Nurmagomedov moved out of range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Nurmagomedov throws a nice looking combination but Litchkov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A nice leg kick from Litchkov, right into the meat of the thigh.
Sloppy strikes from Nurmagomedov. Those never looked like landing.
Nurmagomedov misses with a two punch combination.
Nurmagomedov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Litchkov throws a low kick but it's checked well by Nurmagomedov.
Litchkov looks to land a right hand but Nurmagomedov moved out of range.
Nurmagomedov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A big right from Litchkov misses.
Nurmagomedov throws a nice looking combination but Litchkov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nurmagomedov tries to bum rush Litchkov with a series of wild strikes but Litchkov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nurmagomedov throws a nice looking combination but Litchkov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Litchkov tries to counter by clinching up but Nurmagomedov breaks away and moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khabib Nurmagomedov dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nurmagomedov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Litchkov.
Litchkov with a nice cross.
Nurmagomedov throws a right and a left that Litchkov avoids nicely.
Litchkov swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov throws a nice looking combination but Litchkov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nurmagomedov takes one on the button.
Nurmagomedov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A low kick lands for Litchkov.
Litchkov misses with an uppercut. Nurmagomedov saw that one coming.
Nurmagomedov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Litchkov dodges the punch combination from Nurmagomedov.
Litchkov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Litchkov misses with a hook. Nurmagomedov ducked under it nicely.
Nurmagomedov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Litchkov appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Litchkov lands a jab to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nurmagomedov misses with a two punch combination.
Nurmagomedov throws a right and a left that both miss.
No joy there for Nurmagomedov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Litchkov fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Nurmagomedov moves out of range of the strikes.
Nurmagomedov throws a right hand that Litchkov ducks under and follows up with a left that Litchkov also avoids with ease.
Litchkov throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Nurmagomedov lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Nurmagomedov misses with a few strikes there.
Alexi Litchkov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Litchkov throws a low kick but Nurmagomedov avoids it.
Danga de danga de dang - Nurmagomedov scores with a four punch combination!
Nurmagomedov scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Khabib Nurmagomedov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nurmagomedov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Litchkov circles away quickly and effectively.
Litchkov lands a jab to the nose.
Nurmagomedov lands with a nice combination. Litchkov backs away looking to recover.
Litchkov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Litchkov dodges the punch combination from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Litchkov circles away quickly and effectively.
Nurmagomedov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Litchkov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Litchkov slips a jab and a cross from Nurmagomedov.
Litchkov dodges the punch combination from Nurmagomedov.
Litchkov throws a shot from downtown. Nurmagomedov moves away and avoids it.
Nurmagomedov blocks a low kick nicely.
No joy there for Nurmagomedov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A left and a right from Nurmagomedov both land. Nice combination.
A punch combination from Nurmagomedov misses.
Nurmagomedov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nurmagomedov is working the combinations to good effect here.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Litchkov fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Nurmagomedov throws a right hand that Litchkov ducks under and follows up with a left that Litchkov also avoids with ease.
A punch combination from Nurmagomedov misses.
Nurmagomedov throws a right hand that Litchkov ducks under and follows up with a left that Litchkov also avoids with ease.
Jab, jab by Litchkov - just one landing.
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.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Litchkov slips a jab and a cross from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Nurmagomedov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Litchkov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Litchkov is looking to slow Nurmagomedov down with leg kicks.
Litchkov's corner calls for a 1-2. Litchkov obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Litchkov fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Khabib Nurmagomedov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Litchkov cracks Nurmagomedov with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A combination from Nurmagomedov does no damage.
Litchkov lands with a right hand.
Nurmagomedov throws a nice looking combination but Litchkov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nurmagomedov scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Litchkov throws a leg kick but Nurmagomedov moved away.
Litchkov misses with a leg kick.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Nurmagomedov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Litchkov scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Nurmagomedov scores with a one two! Litchkov had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Nurmagomedov looks to land a combination but Litchkov avoids it well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
No joy there for Nurmagomedov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Jab by Litchkov.
Litchkov slips a jab and a cross from Nurmagomedov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Litchkov throws a lazy right hand but Nurmagomedov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Litchkov dodges the punch combination from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov throws a right hand that Litchkov ducks under and follows up with a left that Litchkov also avoids with ease.
Litchkov throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Nurmagomedov misses with a few strikes there.
A bone on bone clash there as Nurmagomedov blocks the leg kick.
Nurmagomedov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nurmagomedov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Litchkov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nurmagomedov closes the distance and lands a one-two.
A big right from Litchkov misses.
Nurmagomedov moves away from the strike by Litchkov.
Nurmagomedov throws a series of punches but Litchkov moves out of range.
Litchkov fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Litchkov dodges the punch combination from Nurmagomedov.
Litchkov throws a quick counter kick to the body but Nurmagomedov avoids it.
Litchkov connects with a looping right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A low kick lands for Litchkov.
Nurmagomedov lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Litchkov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Nurmagomedov!
Litchkov fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Nurmagomedov checks it well.
Nurmagomedov unleashes a big counter combination but Litchkov bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Litchkov misses with a hook.
Litchkov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Litchkov shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Nurmagomedov eats them both and turns towards Litchkov to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nurmagomedov lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
A big left from Litchkov misses.
Nurmagomedov misses with a wild combination.
Alexi Litchkov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nurmagomedov works over Litchkov's head and body with a nice combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Khabib Nurmagomedov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nurmagomedov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Khabib Nurmagomedov!
Khabib Nurmagomedov decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.