PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ilya Kushnirov (ranked 1634 p4p, 2281 weight class) and Suzaku Kururugi (ranked 243 p4p, 317 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Kushnirov
vs
Kururugi

175 cm
27
195
12 - 10 - 0

187 cm
25
185
6 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ilya Kushnirov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Suzaku Kururugi!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Sam Margolis and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kushnirov throws a quick inside leg kick.
The fighters circling - Kururugi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kururugi avoids the head kick by Kushnirov.
Kushnirov misses with a right hand
and Kururugi makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Ilya Kushnirov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kushnirov throws an off balance right hand
and Kururugi counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
A telegraphed right hand from Kushnirov misses the target.
A cross from Kushnirov lands.
Kushnirov misses with an uppercut
and Kururugi counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Donk. Kushnirov catches Kururugi right on the button with a cross.
Kushnirov motions for Kururugi to come forward. Kushnirov throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kushnirov with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kushnirov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kushnirov defending well as Kururugi loads up on a big left hand.
Kushnirov is looking to counter punch.
Kushnirov swings for the body but Kururugi moves out of range.
Kushnirov slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Kushnirov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kushnirov tries to land a leg kick but Kururugi saw it coming and moves away.
Kushnirov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kururugi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kururugi fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kushnirov has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Kushnirov misses with a left hand
and Kururugi counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Kushnirov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kururugi.
Kururugi dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kushnirov. That did some damage!
An inside leg kick from Kururugi misses.
Kushnirov throws a head kick that misses
and Kururugi counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
The fighters circling - Kushnirov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kushnirov throws a lazy right hand but Kururugi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kushnirov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kururugi.
Kururugi let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Kushnirov blocks a low kick nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kushnirov throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Kushnirov takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kushnirov misses with a body shot.
Kushnirov throws a leg kick but Kururugi sees it coming and moves out of range.
Kururugi throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Kushnirov counters with a straight right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kushnirov connects with a body shot that sends Kururugi's belly button to the back.
Kururugi stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kushnirov.
A head kick by Kushnirov misses
letting Kururugi counter with a right hand.
Kururugi takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
The fighters circling - Kushnirov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kururugi looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A combination from Kushnirov does no damage.
Kushnirov takes a swing at Kururugi's ribcage but misses.
Kururugi drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Kushnirov missing with a left hand there. Kururugi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kururugi follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kushnirov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kururugi.
Kururugi throws a nice outside leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kururugi.
Kushnirov tries to land a front kick but Kururugi steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Kushnirov doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A head kick misses from Kushnirov.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kururugi! But no joy.
Kushnirov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kururugi moves away from the strike by Kushnirov.
Kururugi missing with a left hand there. Kushnirov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kushnirov scores with the left hand. Kururugi knows he should have avoided that one.
Kushnirov lands with a thumping leg kick.
Kushnirov misses the body punch
and Kururugi counters with a right hand to the body.
An inside leg kick lands from Kururugi.
Kururugi on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kururugi moves out of range of the strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kururugi scores with a nice right hand.
Kururugi lands a nice hook to Kushnirov's body. Kushnirov takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Kururugi connects with the punch.
Kushnirov ducks under a wild hook from Kururugi.
Kushnirov ducks right into an uppercut from Kururugi.
Kururugi slips under a jab.
Kushnirov takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Kushnirov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kururugi.
Kushnirov scoring well with a low kick there.
Kururugi looks to land a right hand but Kushnirov moved out of range.
Kururugi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice uppercut lands for Kururugi. That snapped Kushnirov's head back.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kushnirov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kururugi throws out a counter right but Kushnirov avoids it with no problem.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Suzaku Kururugi will probably get the nod.
That's time! Kushnirov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kushnirov misses with a double jab.
Kururugi shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Kururugi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kushnirov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kushnirov just misses with a punch to the body.
Kururugi on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kushnirov. Kushnirov obviously looking to wear him down.
Ilya Kushnirov is winning the standup battle so far.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kushnirov. That's going to slow Kururugi down.
Kushnirov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A low kick from Kushnirov is predictable there
and Kururugi counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kushnirov thinking.
Kururugi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kushnirov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kushnirov throws out a loose jab but Kururugi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kururugi looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Kushnirov moves out of range of the body kick from Kururugi.
Kushnirov thuds his right hand into Kururugi's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Kururugi swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Kushnirov.
Kururugi scores with a one two! Kushnirov had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kushnirov wants to land a leg kick but Kururugi is out of range.
Kushnirov backing away here, and Kururugi unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Kushnirov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A little jabbing left from Kururugi on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Kushnirov tries to work over Kururugi's front leg with a kick but Kururugi checks it.
Kushnirov throws a jab when Kururugi was well out of range.
Kushnirov throws a jab but it's blocked by Kururugi.
Kushnirov throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Kushnirov thuds a left hand into Kururugi's body.
Kushnirov lands with a nice body kick.
Kururugi with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Kururugi ducks under a wild hook from Kushnirov.
Kururugi was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Kushnirov throws a hook but Kururugi avoids it easily.
Kushnirov fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Kururugi is out of range.
Kururugi swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Kushnirov throws a combination that misses
and Kururugi counters with a body kick that stops Kushnirov in his tracks momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kushnirov falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Kururugi to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kushnirov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kururugi.
Kushnirov throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Kushnirov throws a head kick that misses
and Kururugi counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A solid body kick from Kushnirov.
Kushnirov throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Kushnirov throws a leg kick
and Kururugi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kururugi misses with a looping left.
Kushnirov thuds a left hand into Kururugi's body.
Kushnirov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kushnirov misses with a left hand
and Kururugi counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Kururugi throws a big shot that misses.
Kushnirov throws a leg kick but Kururugi sees it coming and checks it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kururugi misses with a body kick.
Kushnirov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kururugi.
A nice combination there by Kushnirov.
Kururugi throws a body punch but Kushnirov moves out of range.
Kushnirov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kururugi.
Kushnirov misses with a straight left.
Kushnirov throws a right hand that Kururugi ducks under and follows up with a left that Kururugi also avoids with ease.
Kushnirov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kururugi misses with a straight right.
Kururugi blocks a low kick nicely.
Kushnirov tries a head kick but it misses.
Kururugi looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kushnirov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kururugi lands a glancing blow to the side of Kushnirov's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Kururugi 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Kushnirov scores with a head kick.
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!
A slow jab from Kururugi misses its intended target.
Kururugi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kushnirov is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kururugi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kushnirov.
Kushnirov is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
A nice leg kick from Kushnirov, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kushnirov listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
A punch combination from Kushnirov misses.
Kururugi throws a body punch but Kushnirov moves out of range.
Kushnirov swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Kushnirov moves away from the strike by Kururugi.
Kushnirov works the jab nicely.
Kushnirov is looking to chop away at Kururugi's legs.
Kushnirov walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ilya Kushnirov dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Kururugi forces Kushnirov back against the cage and clinches.

Kushnirov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kushnirov throws an overhand right that lands on Kururugi's shoulder, as Kururugi tries to avoid the shot.
Kushnirov uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Kushnirov lands a jab-cross combination.
Kururugi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kushnirov manages to avoid it.
Kururugi shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Kushnirov throws a body kick that misses.
Some bone on bone action there as Kururugi checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Kururugi walks into a straight right hand from Kushnirov.
An inside leg kick from Kushnirov misses.
Kushnirov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kururugi only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Kururugi takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kururugi lets loose with a powerful body kick. Kushnirov will feel that in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kushnirov takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Kushnirov on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Kushnirov throws a nice looking combination but Kururugi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kururugi checks a leg kick.
Kushnirov misses with a head kick.
Despite the aggression on Kururugi's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Nice body kick there by Kururugi.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kururugi takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Kushnirov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kururugi replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Kushnirov blocks it well.
A nice leg kick from Kururugi, right into the meat of the thigh.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kushnirov.
Kururugi throws a series of punches but Kushnirov avoids them all with ease.
A leg kick checked by Kururugi.
Kushnirov looks to throw the jab but Kururugi is out of range.
Kururugi swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Kushnirov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Kururugi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kushnirov misses with a jab, cross combination.
A nice side step and Kururugi releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Kushnirov takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Kushnirov walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Kururugi checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Kushnirov throws a shot from downtown. Kururugi moves away and avoids it.
Kushnirov is looking to score with low kicks.
Kururugi dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kushnirov. That did some damage!
Kururugi scores with a kick to the midsection.
Kushnirov throws a poor cross that misses
and Kururugi counters with a stiff right hand.
Kushnirov misses with a kick to the body.
Kururugi scores with a push kick.
Kururugi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kushnirov.
Kushnirov throws a sloppy head kick
and Kururugi makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Kururugi checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kushnirov throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Kushnirov misses with a wild body shot.
Kushnirov misses the jab.
Kururugi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kushnirov.
A nice side step and Kururugi releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Kururugi connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Kushnirov motions for Kururugi to come forward. Kushnirov throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kururugi now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Kushnirov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Kururugi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A bone on bone clash there as Kushnirov blocks the leg kick.
Kushnirov lands a nice hook to Kururugi's body. Kururugi takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Kururugi throws a jab when Kushnirov was well out of range.
Kururugi takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Kushnirov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kururugi manages to avoid it.
Kushnirov walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Kururugi checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kushnirov throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kururugi counters with a stiff right hand.
Kushnirov misses with a hook
and Kushnirov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kushnirov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kushnirov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kururugi.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kushnirov scores with a spinning back kick!
Kururugi scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kururugi throws a body punch but Kushnirov moves out of range.
Kushnirov throws the kick towards the body but Kururugi avoids it.
Kururugi now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Kushnirov misses with a leg kick
and Kururugi counters with a stiff right hand.
Kushnirov misses the body punch
and Kushnirov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kushnirov moves out of range as Kururugi strikes.
Kushnirov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kushnirov throws a jab when Kururugi was well out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Suzaku Kururugi.
I think Kururugi 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight for Suzaku Kururugi!
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight for Ilya Kushnirov!
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight for Suzaku Kururugi!

Suzaku Kururugi wins by split decision!
After winning the bout, Suzaku Kururugi thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.