PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lester Neich (ranked 6983 p4p, 4834 weight class) and Khamzat Nurmaputinov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Neich
vs
Nurmaputinov

168 cm
18
145
3 - 2 - 0

163 cm
25
130
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lester Neich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Khamzat Nurmaputinov!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, David Hoff and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nurmaputinov shoots in and bounces Neich off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Neich definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Nurmaputinov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Neich knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nurmaputinov on the ground.
Neich wants to sweep but no luck.
Nurmaputinov is stalling in the full guard.
Neich wants to sweep here but Nurmaputinov controlling him for the moment.
Neich avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Neich is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Neich is trying to hold Nurmaputinov in close to prevent damage but Nurmaputinov has managed to pass into half guard.
Nurmaputinov scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nurmaputinov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Neich is looking for a sweep. Nurmaputinov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nurmaputinov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Neich is trying to control but can't.
Nurmaputinov 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.
Nurmaputinov stops Neich from getting back to his feet.
Neich trying to hold on to Nurmaputinov's head to control him but Nurmaputinov postures up.
Nurmaputinov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Well, if Nurmaputinov 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.
Nurmaputinov's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Neich wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neich has hold of Nurmaputinov's hands but Nurmaputinov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Neich avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nurmaputinov.
Nurmaputinov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
More stalling from Nurmaputinov.
Neich wants to get back to full guard.
Neich trying to control here.
Nurmaputinov slows the pace down in half guard.
Nurmaputinov passes into side control, despite Neich's attempt to control the position.

Nurmaputinov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Neich, who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

Nurmaputinov tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Neich tries to improve position but can't.
Nurmaputinov wants to control but Neich is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
You can see the frustration on Neich's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Neich tries to bench press Nurmaputinov off him but Nurmaputinov keeps the position.
You can see the frustration on Neich's face as Nurmaputinov controls the position.
You can see the frustration on Neich's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neich takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Nurmaputinov working the ground and pound but Neich is defending the strikes.
You can see the frustration on Neich's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Neich wants to control the position but that's not easy when your opponent is in side control! Nurmaputinov seems to be going for some sort of submission here. Hard to say what - oh, it's a Brabo choke! He's got it! Neich is tapping! Wow, great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:34 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Brabo Choke). Khamzat Nurmaputinov!