PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Charles Murdock (ranked 2804 p4p, 1364 weight class) and Ilya Kushnirov (ranked 404 p4p, 199 weight class). Murdock's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Feel good Inc.. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Murdock
vs
Kushnirov

188 cm
22
198
6 - 4 - 0

175 cm
22
195
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Charles Murdock!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ilya Kushnirov!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kushnirov throws a looping overhand right but Murdock ducks down to avoid it.
Kushnirov throws a leg kick but Murdock sees it coming and moves out of range.
Kushnirov misses the jab.
Murdock tries to clinch but Kushnirov is having none of it.
Kushnirov throws a leg kick but Murdock sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Kushnirov takes a swing at Murdock's ribcage but misses.
Murdock looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Kushnirov scores with a shot to the body.
Murdock misses the shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kushnirov. Murdock does a little dance to reset his feet.
Murdock takes a swing at Kushnirov's ribcage but misses.
Kushnirov connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Murdock moves away from the strike by Kushnirov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kushnirov throws out a loose jab but Murdock uses good head movement to avoid it.
Murdock tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Kushnirov manages to circle out of the way.
Murdock gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Kushnirov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Murdock.
Murdock misses with an uppercut.
Kushnirov throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Murdock.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murdock misses with a body punch
and Kushnirov counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Kushnirov lands a nice leg kick that just misses Murdock's sensitive parts.
Murdock takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kushnirov throws a half hearted mid kick.
Murdock needs to keep his hands up - Kushnirov had a free shot at his head there.
Kushnirov looks to score with a jab to the body but Murdock is just out of range.
Kushnirov goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kushnirov throws a low kick but Murdock moves out of range easily.
Kushnirov lands an overhand right.
Kushnirov throws a sloppy head kick and Murdock moves out of range easily.
Kushnirov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Murdock.
Kushnirov throws a lazy uppercut
and Murdock counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kushnirov misses with a straight left.
Kushnirov staying out of range there.
The fight stays on the outside here - Murdock looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Murdock staying out of range there.
Ilya Kushnirov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kushnirov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
As Kushnirov tries to get set, Murdock tries to push him back and clinch up but Kushnirov manages to avoid the attempt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Murdock slips under a jab.
Kushnirov uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Murdock misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kushnirov.
Kushnirov fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Murdock.
Murdock checks the leg kick.
Murdock is looking to counter punch.
Kushnirov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Murdock.
Kushnirov wants to slow Murdock down by chopping away at his legs.
Kushnirov misses with a looping left.
Kushnirov fails to land with a series of punches.
Kushnirov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Murdock.
Kushnirov swings widly with a right hand

and Murdock counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Murdock keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kushnirov's efforts to push away.
Kushnirov is trying to break the clinch but Murdock is controlling him.

Kushnirov breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kushnirov misses with a straight left.
Kushnirov connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Sloppy strikes from Kushnirov. Those never looked like landing.
Murdock is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Murdock keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kushnirov.
Murdock clobbers Kushnirov with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Kushnirov keeps the fight on the outside.
Kushnirov looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Nice jab there from Murdock.
Kushnirov throws a hook but Murdock blocks it.
Murdock tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kushnirov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
As Murdock backs off Kushnirov throws a huge counter combo but Murdock manages to avoid it all.
Kushnirov looks to land a right hand but Murdock moved out of range.
Kushnirov looks to land a right hand but Murdock moved out of range.
Kushnirov bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Murdock's head.
Murdock misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kushnirov.
Kushnirov looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Murdock throws a body shot but no joy.
Murdock loads up on a big right hand but Kushnirov slips the punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kushnirov scores with a shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Murdock uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kushnirov.
That kick from Kushnirov tenderised Murdock's leg. Murdock is trying to keep his angry face on.
Kushnirov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Murdock.
Kushnirov throws an off balance right hand

and Murdock counters by clinching up.
Kushnirov tries a body shot but Murdock blocks it.
Kushnirov is trying to break the clinch but Murdock has him pressed against the cage.
Murdock lands with a right to the head.
Murdock managing to block the knees to the body from Kushnirov.
Murdock lands a shot to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Kushnirov.
Murdock doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Murdock throws a punch but it's blocked by Kushnirov.
Kushnirov wants to break free but Murdock has control.
Murdock pushes Kushnirov back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kushnirov.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kushnirov connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Murdock wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Murdock with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Murdock has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Murdock's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Kushnirov connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Murdock scrambles back to his feet.
Kushnirov swings widly with a right hand
and Murdock counters with a straight right hand.
Kushnirov pivots, looking for a leg kick but Murdock is out of range and Kushnirov settles back down.
Kushnirov throws a low kick but it's checked well by Murdock.
Kushnirov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A jab from Kushnirov misses.
Murdock throws a looping overhand right but Kushnirov ducks down to avoid it.
Kushnirov misses with a straight left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kushnirov moves out of range of the strikes.
Kushnirov goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kushnirov throws a hook but Murdock blocks it.
Murdock was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Kushnirov misses with a low kick.
Kushnirov throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Kushnirov looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Ilya Kushnirov seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murdock tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kushnirov throws a jab but it's blocked by Murdock.

Kushnirov gets tackled into the cage by Murdock. Murdock maintains the clinch.

Kushnirov breaks the clinch.
Kushnirov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Murdock moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Murdock appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Kushnirov throws a body kick that misses
and Murdock connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Murdock swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kushnirov connects with a body shot.
Murdock thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kushnirov just misses with a punch to the body.
Kushnirov misses with a straight left.
The fighters circling - Murdock throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A telegraphed right hand from Kushnirov misses the target.
Murdock slips a jab and a cross from Kushnirov.
Murdock keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kushnirov throws a hook to the side of Murdock's head but Murdock sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Murdock was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A clash of legs there as Murdock blocks the low kick.
Kushnirov throws a right hand that misses
and Murdock counters with a lovely straight right hand!
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!
Kushnirov connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kushnirov misses with a low kick.
Murdock was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Kushnirov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Murdock manages to avoid it.
Murdock tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Kushnirov manages to circle out of the way.
Murdock sizes up Kushnirov with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
A shot to the body from Murdock misses
and Kushnirov counters with a three punch combo that has Murdock backing up. Murdock nods at Kushnirov to acknowledge the strikes.
Murdock looks to score with a jab to the body but Kushnirov is just out of range.
Kushnirov moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Murdock gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kushnirov tries to work over Murdock's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Murdock doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kushnirov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Murdock has him pressed against the cage.
Kushnirov scores with a shot to the side of Murdock's head.
Murdock lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kushnirov tries to break the clinch but Murdock is controlling the position.
Murdock misses with a body punch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Murdock working aggressively here.
Murdock misses with a hook from the clinch.
Murdock tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kushnirov's elbow.

Kushnirov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kushnirov throws an off balance right hand
and Murdock counters with a straight right hand.
Kushnirov lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Murdock avoids the body shot from Kushnirov.
Murdock is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from Kushnirov misses the target.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kushnirov. That's going to slow Murdock down.
Kushnirov throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Murdock counters with a straight right hand.

Kushnirov gets tackled into the cage by Murdock. Murdock maintains the clinch.
Murdock is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Murdock keeps control of Kushnirov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kushnirov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Murdock scores with a nice right hand.
Kushnirov comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Murdock gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Kushnirov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kushnirov misses with a lunging right hand
and Murdock cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Kushnirov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kushnirov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Murdock walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Murdock throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kushnirov misses with a hook. Murdock ducked under it nicely.
Kushnirov lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Murdock moves into the clinch.
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.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Murdock slips under a jab.
Murdock moves away from the strike by Kushnirov.
Murdock with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Murdock throws a hook to the side of Kushnirov's head but Kushnirov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Murdock lands with an uppercut that bounces Kushnirov off the cage and back into range.
Murdock throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kushnirov stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kushnirov lands with a straight right. Murdock didn't see that one coming.
Kushnirov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Murdock holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Kushnirov tries to break free but Murdock pushes him back against the cage.
Murdock misses with a body punch.
Murdock can't find room to land a body shot as Kushnirov controls the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice body punch from Murdock.
Murdock working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Kushnirov blocks a body shot from Murdock.
Kushnirov is trying to break the clinch but Murdock has him pressed against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Murdock.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kushnirov trying to land knees to the body.
Kushnirov wants to break free but Murdock has control.
A nice right hand lands inside from Murdock.
Murdock misses with a hook to the ribs.
Murdock keeps control of Kushnirov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kushnirov tries to circle away but Murdock has him pinned against the cage.
Kushnirov is trying to push Murdock away but Murdock has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Murdock lands with a short punch from the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Murdock creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Murdock lands a body punch in the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Kushnirov's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kushnirov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kushnirov can't break the clinch.
Kushnirov blocks an uppercut.
Murdock lands with a left to the head.
Kushnirov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Murdock has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murdock keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kushnirov's efforts to push away.
Murdock lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kushnirov backwards.
Murdock has Kushnirov pressed against the cage, preventing Kushnirov from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Murdock tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kushnirov trying to stall but Murdock improves his position.
Murdock presses Kushnirov against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Murdock scores with a nice hook to the head.
Murdock blocks an uppercut.
Murdock is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Murdock scores with a nice hook to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Murdock.
Murdock pressing his opponent against the cage.
Kushnirov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Murdock scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Murdock fails to land.
Murdock scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Ilya Kushnirov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Charles Murdock has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kushnirov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kushnirov lands a shoulder strike.
Kushnirov has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kushnirov blocking some punches.
Kushnirov has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kushnirov misses with some punches.
Kushnirov is trying to force a seperation but Murdock has the dominant position.
Murdock lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Murdock throws a punch but it's blocked by Kushnirov.

Kushnirov breaks from the clinch.
Murdock ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Murdock tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murdock tries to clinch up but Kushnirov circles away and keeps his distance.
Kushnirov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Murdock moves away.
Kushnirov throws a shot from downtown. Murdock moves away and avoids it.
A bone on bone clash there as Murdock blocks the leg kick.
Charles Murdock has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A clash of legs there as Murdock blocks the low kick.
Murdock takes a swing at Kushnirov's ribcage but misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kushnirov! But no joy.
Kushnirov misses with a body kick.
Murdock seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Kushnirov misses with a hook
and Murdock counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Kushnirov fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Murdock checks it well.
Kushnirov throws a lazy right hand but Murdock sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Murdock moves away from the strike by Kushnirov.
Murdock is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Kushnirov.
Kushnirov throws a head kick that Murdock semi-blocks.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Murdock closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Murdock lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kushnirov is trying to force a seperation but Murdock has the dominant position.
Murdock leaning against his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Charles Murdock showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kushnirov 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Ilya Kushnirov!
Ilya Kushnirov 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.