PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ilya Kushnirov (ranked 1518 p4p, 1342 weight class) and Zett Jukassa (ranked 186 p4p, 167 weight class). Ilya Kushnirov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kushnirov
vs
Jukassa

175 cm
32
195
20 - 17 - 0

189 cm
33
195
23 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 20 - 17 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ilya Kushnirov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Zett Jukassa!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Jukassa digs a good hook to Kushnirov's body.
Jukassa lunges at Kushnirov with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kushnirov's hand.
Jukassa feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Kushnirovs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Jukassa lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Jukassa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kushnirov moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jukassa swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kushnirov attempts a counter takedown but Jukassa avoids it well and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jukassa throws a jab but it's blocked by Kushnirov.
Kushnirov changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Jukassa scores with a nice right hand.
Jukassa throws a shot to the body.
Jukassa misses with a straight left.
Kushnirov feinted with a counter takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jukassa misses with a wild body shot.
Kushnirov attempts a counter takedown but Jukassa avoids it well and moves away.
Jukassa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kushnirov was well out of range. Poor timing from Jukassa.
Jukassa misses with a looping right.
Kushnirov drops down looking for a counter takedown but Jukassa sprawls and moves away.
Jukassa swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Jukassa takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jukassa sizes up Kushnirov with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Kushnirov moves away from the strike by Jukassa.
Kushnirov walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Jukassa works Kushnirov's body with a nice hook.
Jukassa has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kushnirov slips a straight right by Jukassa.
Kushnirov half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Jukassa is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Jukassa throws a body punch but Kushnirov moves out of range.
Kushnirov attempts a counter takedown but Jukassa avoids it well and moves away.
Jukassa swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kushnirov attempts a counter takedown but Jukassa avoids it well and moves away.
Jukassa missing with a left hand there. Kushnirov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kushnirov on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zett Jukassa dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nice jab there from Jukassa.
Jukassa bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Jukassa.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kushnirov takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Jukassa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kushnirov takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kushnirov takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Kushnirov might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Kushnirov defending well as Jukassa loads up on a big left hand.
Kushnirov attempts a counter takedown but Jukassa avoids it well and moves away.
A swing and a miss from Jukassa.
Jukassa misses with a double jab.
Kushnirov appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jukassa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kushnirov was well out of range. Poor timing from Jukassa.
Zett Jukassa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kushnirov ducks under a wild hook from Jukassa.
Jukassa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kushnirov moves away.
Kushnirov tries to counter with a takedown but Jukassa is quick to defend against it.
Jukassa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Jukassa throws an overhand right that lands on Kushnirov's shoulder, as Kushnirov tries to avoid the shot.
Kushnirov changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jukassa misses with a looping left.
Kushnirov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Jukassa.
Kushnirov attempts a counter takedown but Jukassa avoids it well and moves away.
Kushnirov on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Jukassa lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Jukassa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kushnirov moves away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Jukassa darts in and clinches Kushnirov up against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zett Jukassa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Jukassa thows a left - swing and a miss!
Jukassa looks to throw the jab but Kushnirov is out of range.
Jukassa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jukassa cracks Kushnirov with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Jukassa lands with an overhand left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kushnirov moves forwards but Jukassa connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A swing and a miss from Jukassa.
Jukassa throws a jab but it's blocked by Kushnirov.
Kushnirov walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Zett Jukassa is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kushnirov gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Jukassa.
Jukassa scores with a punch to the head.
Jukassa lands a nice shot that snaps Kushnirov's head back.
A punch lands to the side of Kushnirov 's head but he takes it in his stride.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jukassa throws a body shot but no joy.
Jukassa misses with a body shot.
Jukassa connects with a jab.
Jukassa thuds his right hand into Kushnirov's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Jukassa misses with a body shot.
Kushnirov changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kushnirov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Jukassa.
Jukassa scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Jukassa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kushnirov moves away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jukassa misses with a wild body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zett Jukassa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Jukassa has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 24:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 24:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zett Jukassa!
Zett Jukassa decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.