PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Djoni Falcao (ranked 4297 p4p, 6198 weight class) and Magomed Nurmagomedov (ranked 197 p4p, 512 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Nurmagomedov's choice of entrance music: Khamzat theme song. Magomed Nurmagomedov is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Falcao
vs
Nurmagomedov

163 cm
18
285
0 - 0 - 0

198 cm
20
255
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BRAZEN - Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Djoni Falcao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Magomed Nurmagomedov!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Aleksandr Martynov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Falcao swings for the body but Nurmagomedov moves out of range.
Nurmagomedov looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Nurmagomedov takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Falcao tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Nurmagomedov counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Falcao thinking.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Falcao tries to clinch but Nurmagomedov moves away

and Nurmagomedov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Falcao controls Nurmagomedov momentarily but Nurmagomedov frees himself.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Nurmagomedov working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Falcao is really struggling to control Nurmagomedov but he's trying to hold on to the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov passes into half guard.
Nurmagomedov trying to mount his opponent but Falcao defends it.
Nurmagomedov controlling the action here.

Nurmagomedov is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Falcao has managed to free his arm - good work.
Falcao has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nurmagomedov is working away from the top position though.
Falcao is trying to stand up here but Nurmagomedov is controlling him well.
Nurmagomedov tries to pass to full mount but Falcao defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Falcao tries to roll over but Nurmagomedov keeps him under control.
Falcao trying to hold on to Nurmagomedov's head to control him but Nurmagomedov postures up.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nurmagomedov takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Nice body punch from Falcao.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Falcao.
Falcao tries to clinch up.
Nurmagomedov takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Falcao moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Falcao tries to close the distance and clinch but Nurmagomedov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Falcao connects with a body shot that sends Nurmagomedov's belly button to the back.
Falcao digs a good hook to Nurmagomedov's body.
Falcao is looking to clinch.
Falcao jabs Nurmagomedov to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Nurmagomedov dodges the punch combination from Falcao.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Djoni Falcao dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Falcao tries to clinch up

and Nurmagomedov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Nurmagomedov postures up.

Nurmagomedov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nurmagomedov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Falcao is trying to keep Nurmagomedov in close.
Nurmagomedov is breathing heavily.
Falcao tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Nurmagomedov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Falcao is keeping the position for now.
Falcao is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Nurmagomedov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nurmagomedov tries for a takedown but Falcao circles away easily
and Falcao counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Falcao tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nurmagomedov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nurmagomedov tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Nurmagomedov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Djoni Falcao is winning the standup battle so far.
Nurmagomedov takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Falcao moves in looking to clinch but Nurmagomedov pushes him off.
Falcao doesn't manage to clinch there - Nurmagomedov circles away.
Falcao tries to clinch up but Nurmagomedov circles away and keeps his distance.
Falcao lands with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Falcao scores with a nice strike.
Falcao is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nurmagomedov with the counter takedown but Falcao avoids it easily.
Falcao could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
A nice combination there by Falcao.
Nurmagomedov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Falcao tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nurmagomedov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Falcao looks to land a combination. Nurmagomedov sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Falcao thuds a left hand into Nurmagomedov's body.
Nurmagomedov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Falcao closes the distance but Nurmagomedov moves to the side

so Nurmagomedov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Djoni Falcao will probably get the nod.
That's time! Falcao's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Nurmagomedov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nurmagomedov feints the counter takedown.
Falcao scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Falcao moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Nurmagomedov swats away the attempt to clinch by Falcao.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Falcao 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 tries to counter with a clinch but Falcao shakes him off and moves away.
Nurmagomedov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nurmagomedov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Falcao pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Nurmagomedov back to the cage. Falcao follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Falcao throws a right hand that Nurmagomedov ducks under and follows up with a left that Nurmagomedov also avoids with ease.
Nurmagomedov with the counter takedown but Falcao avoids it easily.
Falcao scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Falcao scores with a jab to the body.
Falcao cracks a nice hook into Nurmagomedov's ribs.
Falcao goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov keeps the fight on the outside.
Djoni Falcao is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Falcao swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Falcao moves in looking to clinch but Nurmagomedov pushes him off.
Nurmagomedov is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Nurmagomedov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Falcao is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nurmagomedov can do to turn this around?
Falcao throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Nurmagomedov stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Falcao throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nurmagomedov is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Djoni Falcao is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Falcao lands a nice shot to the body.
Falcao connects with a body shot that sends Nurmagomedov's belly button to the back.
Falcao throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Falcao scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Falcao tries to clinch there but Nurmagomedov circles away.
Nurmagomedov swats away the attempt to clinch by Falcao.
Magomed Nurmagomedov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Falcao dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Falcao wants to clinch up but Nurmagomedov keeps it at a distance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Falcao is looking to clinch but Nurmagomedov is avoiding it.
Falcao jabs Nurmagomedov to the body, keeping him at a distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Djoni Falcao showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Falcao, 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Djoni Falcao!
The defeated Magomed Nurmagomedov had this to say: 'Alhamdulillah, sorry to everyone who support me I come back stronger'.