PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Patrick Matthew (ranked 1310 p4p, 745 weight class) and Khabib Nurmagomedov (ranked 187 p4p, 113 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Khabib Nurmagomedov enters the cage!

Matthew
vs
Nurmagomedov

178 cm
25
161
8 - 4 - 0

170 cm
23
162
9 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Northern Zombie
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Silverguard Outfitters 🛡
© Trap House

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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Patrick Matthew!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Khabib Nurmagomedov!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Russell Pearce and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nurmagomedov moves away from the strike by Matthew.
A looping hook to the body misses from Matthew. Nurmagomedov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nurmagomedov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Matthew was well out of range. Poor timing from Nurmagomedov.
Matthew keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

It looks like Khabib Nurmagomedov has been cut.
Matthew scores with a jab to the body.
Nurmagomedov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nurmagomedov misses with a lunging right hand
and Matthew counters with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matthew takes one to the side of the head.
Nurmagomedov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Matthew counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Nurmagomedov has closed the distance and engaged Matthew in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Nurmagomedov.
Matthew misses with some punches.
Matthew throws a head punch that misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Nurmagomedov.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nurmagomedov.
Matthew misses with some punches.
Matthew lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Nurmagomedov lands a left hand.

Nurmagomedov is trying to trip Matthew. He has hold of a leg but Matthew is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Nurmagomedov persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Nurmagomedov throws a strike but Matthew rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nurmagomedov looking for a sweep. Not yet Nurmagomedov, not yet.
Matthew content to stall in guard here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nurmagomedov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Matthew's guard.

Matthew avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nurmagomedov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Matthew keeping moving, preventing Nurmagomedov from controlling successfully.
Matthew is adopting a defensive guard.
Nurmagomedov throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthew is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Nurmagomedov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nurmagomedov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nurmagomedov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Matthew is keeping the position for now.
Matthew keeping moving, preventing Nurmagomedov from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Matthew throws a poor cross that misses
and Nurmagomedov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Nurmagomedov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Matthew.
Nurmagomedov lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Matthew has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Nurmagomedov finds it's way round the side to connect with Matthew's head.
We've been told by Matthew's head coaches at DC Dragon Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Nurmagomedov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Matthew sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A counter left hand to the body from Matthew misses its target.
Nurmagomedov darts in trying to clinch
and Matthew counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Matthew scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Matthew swats away the attempt to clinch by Nurmagomedov.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Khabib Nurmagomedov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Khabib Nurmagomedov's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nurmagomedov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Matthew throwing a counter right hand but Nurmagomedov manages to avoid it.
Nurmagomedov throws the left hand but Matthew avoids the punch easily.
A little feinted left hand from Matthew on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Nurmagomedov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nurmagomedov ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Nurmagomedov throws a looping overhand right but Matthew ducks down to avoid it.
Nurmagomedov lands a nice looking body shot.

Nurmagomedov rushes Matthew and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Matthew breaks from the clinch.
Nurmagomedov lands a right hook to the body.

Matthew tries to keep at a distance but Nurmagomedov has taken the fight into the clinch.
Nurmagomedov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Matthew's elbow.
Matthew is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthew misses with the head strike.
Matthew lands a shoulder strike.
Nurmagomedov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Matthew misses with a body punch.
Nurmagomedov scores with a hook to the body.

Matthew breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Matthew looks to score with a jab to the body but Nurmagomedov is just out of range.
Nurmagomedov misses the jab.
It looked like Matthew wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov blocks a jab.
Nurmagomedov misses with a body punch
and Matthew cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nurmagomedov lands a nice shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthew misses with an uppercut. Nurmagomedov saw that one coming.
Matthew looks to throw the jab but Nurmagomedov is out of range.
Matthew ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nurmagomedov moves away.
Nurmagomedov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nurmagomedov throws a poor cross that misses
and Matthew counters with a two punch combo.
Nurmagomedov shoots in looking for a takedown. Matthew tries to sprawl out of it but Nurmagomedov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Matthew manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A quick step to the side and Matthew tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Matthew connects with a nice looking jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov misses with a straight left.
Nurmagomedov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Matthew is looking to counter punch.
Patrick Matthew is winning the standup battle so far.
Nurmagomedov loads up on a big right hand but Matthew slips the punch.
Nurmagomedov blocks a jab.
A big right from Nurmagomedov misses.
Nurmagomedov misses with a shot to the body
and Matthew makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Jab from Nurmagomedov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Matthew on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Matthew ducks under a wild hook from Nurmagomedov.
Matthew throws a lazy right hand but Nurmagomedov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nurmagomedov feints the counter takedown.
Matthew throws an off balance right hand

and Nurmagomedov moves into the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matthew doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nurmagomedov misses with some punches.
Matthew lands a body shot in the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Matthew scores with a nice short uppercut.
Nurmagomedov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Matthew lands with a right to the head.
Nurmagomedov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nurmagomedov lands a nice shot to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Nurmagomedov.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Khabib Nurmagomedov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Khabib Nurmagomedov's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

A slow jab from Nurmagomedov misses its intended target.
Matthew throwing a counter right hand but Nurmagomedov manages to avoid it.
Nurmagomedov misses with a left hand
and Matthew counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Matthew just misses with a punch to the body.
Nurmagomedov throws a looping overhand right but Matthew ducks down to avoid it.
Matthew is looking to counter punch.
A slow jab from Nurmagomedov misses its intended target.
Nurmagomedov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Matthew appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmagomedov misses with a body shot
enabling Matthew to counter with a crisp jab.

That has opened up Khabib Nurmagomedov's cut even more.
Matthew slips a jab from Nurmagomedov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov looks to land a right hand but Matthew moved out of range.
Nurmagomedov misses with a left hand
and Matthew counters with a lovely straight right hand!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Matthew tries to work over Nurmagomedov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Matthew breaks from the clinch.
Matthew takes a swing at Nurmagomedov's ribcage but misses.
Matthew tries to clinch up.
Nice straight punches there by Nurmagomedov. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Nurmagomedov.
Matthew thuds a left hand into Nurmagomedov's body.
Matthew looks to throw the jab but Nurmagomedov is out of range.
Patrick Matthew has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthew misses with a looping right.
Matthew loads up on a big right hand but Nurmagomedov slips the punch.
Nurmagomedov looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Matthew swings for the body but Nurmagomedov moves out of range.
Matthew cracks Nurmagomedov with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Matthew misses with a straight left.
Nurmagomedov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A counter left hand to the body from Matthew misses its target.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nurmagomedov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Matthew sees it coming and avoids it easily.
It looked like Matthew wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Matthew swings widly with a right hand
letting Nurmagomedov counter with a right hand.
Nurmagomedov jabs Matthew right on the nose. Matthew blinks but takes it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov shoots in and drives through. Matthew sprawls well.
Matthew throws a body punch but Nurmagomedov moves out of range.
Nurmagomedov takes a swing at Matthew's ribcage but misses.
Matthew throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nurmagomedov tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Matthew defends well and Nurmagomedov ends up having to push Matthew into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Patrick Matthew has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Matthew swings for the body but Nurmagomedov moves out of range.
Nurmagomedov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nurmagomedov misses with a right hand
and Matthew counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov staying out of range there.
Matthew moves away from the strike by Nurmagomedov.
Matthew was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Nurmagomedov connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Khabib Nurmagomedov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nurmagomedov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matthew.
Matthew misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nurmagomedov.
Matthew throws a right hand that misses
and Matthew takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nurmagomedov gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Nurmagomedov tries to clinch
and Matthew counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Nurmagomedov thinking.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matthew takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Patrick Matthew showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Nurmagomedov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Khabib Nurmagomedov!
After winning the bout, Khabib Nurmagomedov thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.