PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Khabib Nurmagomedov (ranked 4145 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Ecklar (ranked 4957 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Nurmagomedov
vs
Ecklar

185 cm
25
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Khabib Nurmagomedov!
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, Thomas Ecklar!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ecklar lands a nice hook to Nurmagomedov's body. Nurmagomedov takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Ecklar lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Nurmagomedov at a distance.
Ecklar connects with a body shot that sends Nurmagomedov's belly button to the back.
Ecklar looks to land a combination but Nurmagomedov avoids it well.
Ecklar stuffs the takedown attempt from Nurmagomedov. Nurmagomedov gets slowly back to his feet.
The crowd cheers as Ecklar lands an impressive looking overhand right. Nurmagomedov doesn't seem phased though.
Ecklar lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Ecklar.
A left lands for Ecklar.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nurmagomedov fails to land with a series of punches.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov shoots in looking for a takedown but Ecklar manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Nurmagomedov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Khabib Nurmagomedov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nurmagomedov walks into a left hand.
Ecklar looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nurmagomedov appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Nurmagomedov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ecklar as he jumps to the side.
Nurmagomedov walks into a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good exchange - Ecklar coming out on top.
Nurmagomedov tries to clinch but Ecklar is having none of it.
Horrible takedown attempt by Nurmagomedov or perhaps it was just good defense by Ecklar, which made it look bad.
Nurmagomedov fails with the takedown.
Nurmagomedov is breathing heavily.
Nurmagomedov takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Khabib Nurmagomedov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fighters circle momentarily. Ecklar darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Nurmagomedov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ecklar avoids it really well and circles away.
Ecklar throws out a powerful jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ecklar looks to land a combination. Nurmagomedov sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Ecklar dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Thomas Ecklar is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
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!

Ecklar tries to sprawl but Nurmagomedov drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Ecklar manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Nurmagomedov keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Ecklar is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Ecklar breaks from the clinch.
Ecklar with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Ecklar dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ecklar throws a combination. Nurmagomedov tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Ecklar!
Nurmagomedov shoots and misses
and Ecklar counters with a nice uppercut.

Nurmagomedov is rocked!
Ecklar jabs at Nurmagomedov's body.
Nurmagomedov on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Ecklar with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ecklar stalks Nurmagomedov and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Nurmagomedov's face. Nurmagomedov staggers backwards, shaken.
Oh Nurmagomedov is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Nurmagomedov shoots and misses
and Ecklar counters with a two punch combo.
Ecklar cracks Nurmagomedov with an open hand slap.
Nurmagomedov shoots in for a double leg but Ecklar sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A nice combination there by Ecklar.
Jab by Ecklar.
No luck for Nurmagomedov with that takedown attempt.
Nurmagomedov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ecklar sprawls well. Ecklar wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Nurmagomedov gets slowly back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ecklar lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Nurmagomedov seems to have got his legs back now.
Ecklar slaps away a takedown attempt from Nurmagomedov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ecklar with a nice cross.
Nurmagomedov shoots for a takedown but Ecklar saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ecklar scores with a three punch combo!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ecklar misses with a double jab.

Nurmagomedov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Ecklar wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nurmagomedov lands strikes from half guard.
Nurmagomedov is thwarting Ecklar's attempts to control the position.
Nurmagomedov working the head and body with strikes.
Nurmagomedov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nurmagomedov takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nurmagomedov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nurmagomedov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nurmagomedov lands a nice short elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Ecklar dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nurmagomedov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ecklar tries to avoid it but Nurmagomedov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ecklar to the ground. Ecklar escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Nurmagomedov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ecklar lands a body shot.
Thomas Ecklar seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ecklar lands with a right hand.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Ecklar enables Nurmagomedov to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Ecklar manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Nurmagomedov won't allow Ecklar to sweep him here.
Ecklar trying to control the position.
Ecklar really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nurmagomedov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Nurmagomedov landing with the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nurmagomedov connects with a couple of short punches.
Nurmagomedov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Nurmagomedov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Nurmagomedov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Nurmagomedov works over Ecklar with some ground and pound from guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nurmagomedov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Nurmagomedov is in close to Ecklar's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Nurmagomedov with a nice head shot there.
Nurmagomedov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Nurmagomedov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Nurmagomedov lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Nurmagomedov is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Nurmagomedov lands a couple of digs.
Nurmagomedov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Nurmagomedov stopping the sweep attempt from Ecklar.
Nurmagomedov cracks Ecklar with a solid left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov scoring with some ground and pound.
Nurmagomedov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Nurmagomedov forces his way into half guard.
Nurmagomedov drops an elbow to the side of Ecklar's head.
Nice strikes from Nurmagomedov there.
Khabib Nurmagomedov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ecklar on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Nurmagomedov 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.
Ecklar taking some punishment here, with Nurmagomedov in his half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nurmagomedov trying to control from half guard but Ecklar is working away.
Nurmagomedov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Nurmagomedov working over Ecklar with some ground and pound. Ecklar looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ecklar has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nurmagomedov lands a nice short elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ecklar is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Nurmagomedov scores with a couple of nice shots.
Ecklar is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nurmagomedov is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Nurmagomedov drops an elbow to the side of Ecklar's head.
Nurmagomedov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Nurmagomedov.
Ecklar is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Nurmagomedov scores with a couple of nice shots.
Nurmagomedov landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Nurmagomedov working Ecklar over with strikes.
Nurmagomedov 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.
Nurmagomedov lands strikes from half guard.
Ecklar has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nurmagomedov is working away from the top position though.
Nurmagomedov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Nurmagomedov winds up and cracks Ecklar with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nurmagomedov winds up and cracks Ecklar with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Ecklar has hold of Nurmagomedov's hands but Nurmagomedov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Nurmagomedov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ecklar sees it coming and defends easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ecklar is refusing to be controlled, as Nurmagomedov sits in half guard.
Nice strikes from Nurmagomedov there.
Nurmagomedov winds up and cracks Ecklar with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nurmagomedov drops an elbow to the side of Ecklar's head.
Nurmagomedov moves nicely into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khabib Nurmagomedov dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Nurmagomedov gets the takedown into side control.
Nurmagomedov lands a decent elbow from side control.
Ecklar taking punishment in the form of punches.
Nurmagomedov scores with a couple of short elbows.
Nurmagomedov scores with punches from side control.
Nurmagomedov fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Nurmagomedov lands an elbow.
Nurmagomedov cracks Ecklar with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Ecklar is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Ecklar is working to avoid the ground and pound but Nurmagomedov connects with a decent elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nurmagomedov looks up at the clock and then as Ecklar takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Nurmagomedov smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Nurmagomedov scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Ecklar to see if he's OK.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nurmagomedov scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Ecklar to see if he's OK.
Nurmagomedov is chipping away with strikes.
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 is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Ecklar's shoulder. That is not cool.
Nurmagomedov looks up at the clock and then as Ecklar takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Nurmagomedov smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Ecklar is looking for a sweep.
Ecklar takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Nurmagomedov working the head and body with strikes.
Nurmagomedov landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Check out the look on Nurmagomedov's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Ecklar is working to avoid the ground and pound but Nurmagomedov connects with a decent elbow.
Nurmagomedov in side control lands a decent elbow.
Nurmagomedov working the ground and pound.
Nurmagomedov working the ground and pound.
Ecklar is looking for a sweep.
Ecklar is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Check out the look on Nurmagomedov's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Nurmagomedov looks up at the clock and then as Ecklar takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Nurmagomedov smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov is chipping away with strikes.
Nurmagomedov grinds an elbow into Ecklar's temple.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nurmagomedov lands a few punches from side control.
Check out the look on Nurmagomedov's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Check out the look on Nurmagomedov's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Nurmagomedov working the body and head with strikes.
Nurmagomedov lands some shots froms side control.
Nurmagomedov working the ground and pound.
Ecklar wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Nurmagomedov lands a nice forearm strike.
Nurmagomedov landing a few strikes.
Nurmagomedov cracks Ecklar with a big right hand but Ecklar just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Ecklar tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nurmagomedov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Nurmagomedov lands a nice forearm strike.
Ecklar can't do much from the bottom here.
Nurmagomedov is putting a hurting on Ecklar here, landing some big shots from side control.
Nurmagomedov lands a nice forearm strike.
Ecklar is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Nurmagomedov is chipping away with strikes.
Nurmagomedov cracks Ecklar with a big elbow.
Nurmagomedov lands a decent elbow from side control.

Ecklar is rocked!
Ecklar on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Ecklar is still in real trouble! Can Nurmagomedov finish him?
Nurmagomedov working the body and head with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nurmagomedov is looking to take a break and control but Ecklar is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nurmagomedov lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Ecklar down.
Nurmagomedov in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Nurmagomedov cracks Ecklar with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Ecklar on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Nurmagomedov is working Ecklar over with some ground and pound from side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ecklar is working to avoid the ground and pound but Nurmagomedov connects with a decent elbow.
Ecklar tries to buck Nurmagomedov off but Nurmagomedov is having none of it.
Nurmagomedov working the head with strikes.
Nurmagomedov scoring with punches and elbows.
Nurmagomedov working away.
Nurmagomedov lands an elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Khabib Nurmagomedov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Nurmagomedov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Khabib Nurmagomedov!
Khabib Nurmagomedov decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.