PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Nikolai Magomedov (ranked 22908 p4p, 22592 weight class) and Brian Upchurch (ranked 611 p4p, 661 weight class). Upchurch is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Quit Lyin. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Magomedov
vs
Upchurch

205 cm
27
235
8 - 5 - 0

187 cm
38
235
13 - 4 - 1

World class boxer
Cardio machine

World class MT
Fast

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nikolai Magomedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Brian Upchurch!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Daniel Blasius and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Magomedov slips under a jab.
Magomedov was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Magomedov looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Magomedov moves into the clinch.
Magomedov tries to land knees in the clinch but Upchurch avoids the damage to the body.
Upchurch misses with a short punch on the inside.
Upchurch told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Magomedov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Upchurch is defending well for now.
Upchurch lands a nice elbow.
Upchurch pushes Magomedov back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Magomedov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Magomedov blocks a body shot from Upchurch.
Magomedov tries a body shot but Upchurch blocks it.
Magomedov taking a breather.
Magomedov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Upchurch just misses with a elbow thrown towards Magomedov's brow.
Upchurch lands with a light punch inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magomedov lands a shot to the body.
Magomedov stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Upchurch looks winded!
Magomedov works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Magomedov lands a hook to the side of the head.
Magomedov lands with a light punch inside.
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!
Upchurch prevents a body shot from Magomedov.
Upchurch's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Magomedov lands a knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov trying to control the position but instead, Upchurch has worked for underhooks and has pushed Magomedov into the ropes.
Magomedov tries to work over Upchurch's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A nice left hand lands by Magomedov.
Magomedov throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Upchurchs head.

It looks like Brian Upchurch has been cut.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Magomedov creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Upchurch tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Magomedov tries to throw a body punch but Upchurch avoids it by throwing Magomedov back against the ropes.
Magomedov lands with a right to the head.
Magomedov tries to throw a body punch but Upchurch avoids it by throwing Magomedov back against the ropes.
Magomedov prevents a body shot from Upchurch.
Still in the clinch, Magomedov scores with a nice short uppercut.
Magomedov lands a shot to the body.
Upchurch blocks a body shot from Magomedov.
Magomedov cracks Upchurch with a nice body shot.
Magomedov tries to work over Upchurch's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Magomedov is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Upchurch throws an elbow but it misses.
Magomedov landing knees to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from Magomedov.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Magomedov.
Upchurch takes a shot to the head.
Magomedov throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Upchurchs head.
Magomedov working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Magomedov's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Magomedov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Magomedov pushes Upchurch back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short right from Magomedov on the inside.
Magomedov is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Magomedov's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Magomedov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Upchurch's elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Upchurch creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Magomedov presses Upchurch against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Magomedov creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Magomedov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Upchurch prevents a body shot from Magomedov.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Magomedov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Brian Upchurch's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Upchurch avoids a punch combination nicely.
Upchurch thinks about the counter body kick.
Magomedov scores with a jab to the jaw.

Upchurch tries to keep at a distance but Magomedov has taken the fight into the clinch.
Magomedov using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Upchurch lands a damaging elbow.
Magomedov avoids the elbow strike from Upchurch, against the ropes.
Magomedov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Upchurch has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Magomedov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magomedov lands a body punch.
Upchurch prevents a body shot from Magomedov.
Upchurch tries to land knees in the clinch but Magomedov avoids the damage to the body.
Magomedov lands a hook that snaps the head of Upchurch backwards.
Upchurch is breathing heavily.
Magomedov can't find room to land a body shot as Upchurch controls the action.
Magomedov blocking some punches.
Upchurch blocks a body shot from Magomedov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Magomedov tries a body shot but Upchurch blocks it.
Upchurch throws a knee to the head but misses.
Magomedov lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Upchurch backwards.
Upchurch working aggressively here.
A head punch on the inside from Upchurch fails to land.
Magomedov works on Upchurch's body with a couple of short punches.
A short uppercut from Magomedov.
Upchurch looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Magomedov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Upchurch's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Magomedov unloads a knee to the mid-section. Upchurch lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Magomedov struggles to land a body shot inside as Upchurch controls his hands.
Magomedov misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Magomedov breaks from the clinch.
Magomedov lands with a nice body punch.

Magomedov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Magomedov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
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!
Upchurch blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Magomedov struggles to land a body shot inside as Upchurch controls his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov is looking to control Upchurch's arms but Upchurch gets an underhook and turns him. Now Magomedov has his back to the ropes.
Magomedov lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Magomedov is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Magomedov lands an uppercut.
Magomedov lands a nice shot to the body.
Upchurch throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Magomedov blocks it with crossed arms.
Magomedov lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Upchurch or not.
Magomedov lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Magomedov pushes Upchurch back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Magomedov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Magomedov lands a body shot in the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Magomedov.
A knee to the head by Magomedov.

Upchurch is rocked!
Nice body punch from Magomedov - that landed with a thud.
A short body shot lands from Magomedov as the two fighters clinch.
Magomedov pushes Upchurch back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Upchurch is still on wobbly legs! Can Magomedov finish him?
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Magomedov avoiding damage as Upchurch throws knees to the body.
Magomedov pushes Upchurch back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
A right hook to the body lands for Magomedov.
Magomedov landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Upchurch seems to have recovered his senses.
Upchurch scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Magomedov lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Magomedov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Brian Upchurch's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Magomedov connects with a quick right hand that sends Upchurch tumbling backwards onto the canvas! As his head bounces into the ropes, it doesn't look good for him beating the count! 3,4,5,6,7 and he's up! No, he's back down again! This one is all over - the referee has called off the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punch). Nikolai Magomedov!