PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dominick Poirier (ranked 3954 p4p, 4422 weight class) and Khabib Nurmagomedov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dominick Poirier is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Poirier
vs
Nurmagomedov

176 cm
25
145
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
155
0 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dominick Poirier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Khabib Nurmagomedov!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

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

Poirier looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Poirier trying to control the action but Nurmagomedov is working from the bottom.
Nurmagomedov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nurmagomedov gets full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nurmagomedov can do anything to dispel that myth.
Nurmagomedov is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Poirier wants to control from the top but Nurmagomedov keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmagomedov wants to get back to his feet but Poirier passes into half guard.
Nurmagomedov throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov wants to get back to his feet.
Nurmagomedov is pressing down on Poirier's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Nurmagomedov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Nurmagomedov has his foot on Poirier's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Poirier works his way back into a safe position though.
Nurmagomedov keeping moving, preventing Poirier from controlling successfully.
Poirier preventing the sweep.
Poirier stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nurmagomedov swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Nurmagomedov keeping moving, preventing Poirier from controlling successfully.
Nurmagomedov pulls Poirier in to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Poirier tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nurmagomedov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nurmagomedov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Poirier is fending him off so far but Nurmagomedov persists. Nope, Poirier circles away and we're back to standing.
Nurmagomedov throws a sloppy head kick

and Poirier moves into the clinch.
Nurmagomedov is looking to take this one to the mat.
Nurmagomedov looks winded!
Poirier changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Nurmagomedov fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Nurmagomedov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Poirier's waist but Poirier gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Nurmagomedov off to one side.
Dominick Poirier has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Poirier shoots in looking for a takedown but Nurmagomedov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Poirier's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nurmagomedov fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poirier goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Poirier shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nurmagomedov leaves Poirier with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nurmagomedov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Poirier swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Nurmagomedov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Poirier's guard.
Nurmagomedov postures up.
Poirier looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nurmagomedov is one step ahead there.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Poirier wants to stand and escape but Nurmagomedov is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Poirier is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Nurmagomedov controlling from the top position.
Poirier wants to stand but Nurmagomedov is controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
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 Dominick Poirier will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nurmagomedov looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Poirier!
Nurmagomedov is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
You can see the frustration on Poirier's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Who's going to make the next move?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A lull in the action here as Nurmagomedov stalls from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov wants to stand but Poirier has his arm trapped.
Poirier is being controlled here.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Poirier is trying to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nurmagomedov is looking to clinch.
Nurmagomedov misses with a double jab.
Poirier blocks a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nurmagomedov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Poirier counters with a two punch combo.
Poirier fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Poirier swinging wildly here.
Nice sprawl there from Nurmagomedov as Poirier shoots in.
Poirier throws a right hand that Nurmagomedov ducks under and follows up with a left that Nurmagomedov also avoids with ease.
Nurmagomedov is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Poirier tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nurmagomedov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nurmagomedov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nurmagomedov moves to clinch but Poirier breaks away
and Poirier counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Poirier fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Nurmagomedov, pushing him back against the cage.
Poirier stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Poirier decides to pull guard.
Nurmagomedov works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Nurmagomedov seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Nurmagomedov is working for a submission of some sort.

Poirier is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nurmagomedov pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Nurmagomedov prevents Poirier from improving his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Well, if Nurmagomedov 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dominick Poirier dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Nurmagomedov keeps the fight on the outside.
Nurmagomedov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Dominick Poirier is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Nurmagomedov looking to score a takedown here. Poirier is defending well but Nurmagomedov drives through and ends up in Poirier's guard.
Poirier working a defensive guard here.
Nurmagomedov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmagomedov throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Khabib Nurmagomedov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Poirier controls Nurmagomedov momentarily but Nurmagomedov frees himself.
Nurmagomedov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nurmagomedov takes one on the button.
A head kick misses from Nurmagomedov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Nurmagomedov shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Poirier napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Nurmagomedov is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Nurmagomedov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nurmagomedov tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Poirier takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Poirier being controlled for a moment.
Poirier sneaks back into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Poirier kicks Nurmagomedov off and gets back to his feet.
Poirier throws a nice looking combination but Nurmagomedov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nurmagomedov leaves Poirier with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nurmagomedov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nurmagomedov throws a counter combo.
Poirier throws a sloppy head kick and Nurmagomedov moves out of range easily.

Poirier gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Poirier pushes Nurmagomedov off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!

Poirier closes the distance and pushes Nurmagomedov back into the cage.

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

Nurmagomedov scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Nurmagomedov thows a huge punch but Poirier dodges it nicely.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nurmagomedov lands a nice short elbow.
Poirier has hold of Nurmagomedov's hands but Nurmagomedov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Nurmagomedov stalling.
Khabib Nurmagomedov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dominick Poirier is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Poirier controlling the position well.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Dominick Poirier.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Poirier, 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dominick Poirier!