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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rory Schafer (ranked 2034 p4p, 2060 weight class) and Ilya Kushnirov (ranked 259 p4p, 264 weight class). Schafer kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Survival of the Fittest - Mobb Deep. Ilya Kushnirov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?
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| 191 cm
21
203
4 - 1 - 0 |
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175 cm
20
195
2 - 2 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine |
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BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank |
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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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rory Schafer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ilya Kushnirov!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kushnirov throws a lazy right hand but Schafer sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kushnirov looks to throw the jab but Schafer is out of range.
Kushnirov throws out a loose jab but Schafer uses good head movement to avoid it.
An attempted straight right counter from Schafer misses the target.
Schafer pushes Kushnirov away with a front kick.
Kushnirov on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Kushnirov misses with a double jab
letting Schafer counter with a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schafer misses with a kick to the body
and Kushnirov counters with a straight right hand.
Kushnirov looks to land a combination but Schafer avoids it well.
It looked like Schafer was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Kushnirov.
Kushnirov misses with a straight right.
Schafer lands a lovely overhand right.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice leg kick from Schafer, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kushnirov dodges the punch combination from Schafer.
Kushnirov blocks the body kick.
A big left from Schafer misses.
Schafer with a nice calf kick.
Kushnirov throws a hook but Schafer avoids it easily.
Kushnirov throws an off balance right hand
and Schafer connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Schafer throws a lazy uppercut
and Kushnirov counters with a straight right hand.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schafer avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Schafer misses with a hook.
Schafer fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kushnirov manages to avoid it.
Schafer throws a looping overhand right but Kushnirov ducks down to avoid it.
Schafer throws a big shot that misses.
Kushnirov looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Schafer misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Kushnirov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Schafer swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Schafer is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Schafer looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Schafer misses with a hook to the body
and Kushnirov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kushnirov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Schafer.
Kushnirov throws out a counter right but Schafer avoids it with no problem.
Kushnirov might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Schafer misses
and Kushnirov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kushnirov throws the left hand but Schafer avoids the punch easily.
Kushnirov scores with a hook to the body. Schafer takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Schafer throws an off balance right hand
and Kushnirov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Schafer throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kushnirov appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Kushnirov dips to his left and cracks Schafer with an uppercut!
Schafer throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Kushnirov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kushnirov swings for the body but Schafer moves out of range.
Kushnirov just misses with a punch to the body.
Schafer takes a body punch but keeps moving.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kushnirov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Schafer connects with a looping right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kushnirov moves out of range of the body kick from Schafer.
It seemed like Kushnirov was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Kushnirov lands a body shot.
Schafer defending well as Kushnirov loads up on a big left hand.
Kushnirov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A slow jab from Kushnirov misses its intended target.
Nice defenses there by Kushnirov.
Kushnirov is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Schafer had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Schafer lands a head shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Ilya Kushnirov will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!
A looping hook to the body misses from Schafer. Kushnirov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Schafer misses with a body kick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kushnirov! But no joy.
Schafer walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Schafer looks to throw the jab but Kushnirov is out of range.
A little jabbing left from Kushnirov on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
A swing and a miss from Kushnirov.
Schafer scores with a jab to the jaw.
Schafer pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schafer misses with a kick to the body.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kushnirov! But no joy.
Kushnirov swings for the body but Schafer moves out of range.
Kushnirov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Schafer misses with a jab to the body
and Kushnirov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Schafer slips under a jab.
Kushnirov slips under a jab.
Kushnirov blocks a head kick by Schafer.
Kushnirov throws out a counter right but Schafer avoids it with no problem.
Jab, jab by Kushnirov - just one landing.
Kushnirov avoids a kick to the body.
Kushnirov changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Schafer displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kushnirov throws out the jab.
It looked like Schafer was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Kushnirov.
Ilya Kushnirov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kushnirov misses with an uppercut. Schafer saw that one coming.
Kushnirov throws a lazy right hand but Schafer sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
It looked like Schafer wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Kushnirov.
Schafer cracks Kushnirov with an open hand slap.
Kushnirov misses with a left hand
and Schafer counters with a nice uppercut.
Nice straight punches there by Kushnirov. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Kushnirov.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kushnirov lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Schafer throws a left and a right that both miss
and Kushnirov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kushnirov throws a hook to the side of Schafer's head but Schafer sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kushnirov looks to land a right hand but Schafer moved out of range.
That kick from Schafer tenderised Kushnirov's leg. Kushnirov is trying to keep his angry face on.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kushnirov lands a right hook to the body.
Schafer tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kushnirov jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Schafer lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Kushnirov blocks the body kick.
Schafer fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kushnirov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Schafer manages to avoid it.
Kushnirov takes one on the button.
Schafer looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kushnirov swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kushnirov misses with a lunging right hand
and Schafer cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kushnirov's jab looks to have found its range, popping Schafer under the eye.
Schafer pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Kushnirov connects with a crisp jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Schafer lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Kushnirov misses with a looping right.
Jab from Kushnirov.
Schafer displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kushnirov throws out the jab.
Kushnirov throws a body shot but no joy.
Schafer went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Kushnirov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Ilya Kushnirov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Schafer's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!
A big left from Kushnirov misses.
A little feinted left hand from Schafer on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Rory Schafer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kushnirov ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Kushnirov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kushnirov misses with a straight right.
Kushnirov misses with a body punch
and Schafer makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Schafer throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kushnirov is looking for the big counter here.
Kushnirov defending well as Schafer loads up on a big left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kushnirov lands with a good body shot.
Kushnirov misses with a looping left.
Schafer uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kushnirov.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kushnirov misses with a straight left.
Kushnirov avoids a kick to the body.
Kushnirov swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Nice straight punches there by Kushnirov. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Kushnirov.
Kushnirov misses with an uppercut. Schafer saw that one coming.
Kushnirov scores with a hook to the body. Schafer takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Schafer takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Kushnirov misses with a looping left.
Kushnirov fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Kushnirov swings for the body but Schafer moves out of range.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kushnirov throws a right hand that misses
and Schafer counters with a nice uppercut.
A lazy body kick from Schafer
and Kushnirov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Schafer connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kushnirov momentarily.
A jab from Kushnirov misses.
Schafer quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Schafer uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kushnirov.
Schafer misses with a hook to the body
and Kushnirov counters with a nice uppercut.
Schafer misses with the combination.
Kushnirov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Schafer.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Schafer might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kushnirov throws a big shot that misses.
Ilya Kushnirov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Schafer misses with a body punch
and Kushnirov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Schafer connects with a body shot.
Kushnirov avoids a kick to the body.
A jab from Kushnirov misses.
Schafer uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kushnirov.
Kushnirov misses with a looping left.
Schafer throws a quick counter kick to the body but Kushnirov avoids it.
Schafer avoids a punch combination nicely.
Schafer looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schafer misses with a body shot.
Kushnirov tests Schafer's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Schafer tries to land a body kick
and Kushnirov counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Schafer uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Kushnirov has time to react.
Kushnirov misses with a hook. Schafer ducked under it nicely.
Kushnirov swings for the body but Schafer moves out of range.
A quick step to the side and Schafer tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Schafer throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Kushnirov makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
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!
Schafer scores with a kick to the body.
Schafer throws a push kick but Kushnirov slaps the foot to one side.
And that's the end of the fight!
Ilya Kushnirov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kushnirov 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ilya Kushnirov!
In his post fight interview, Ilya Kushnirov started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
50% |
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