PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kyle Switzer (ranked 524 p4p, 1018 weight class) and Ilya Kushnirov (ranked 67 p4p, 150 weight class). Switzer kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is The Rolling Stones - Street Fighting Man. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Switzer
vs
Kushnirov

189 cm
24
185
11 - 3 - 0

175 cm
23
195
8 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

High Peak Fightwear
Voodoo Nutrition

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 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kyle Switzer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ilya Kushnirov!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice defenses there by Kushnirov.
Switzer avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Switzer slips a jab from Kushnirov.
Kushnirov swings for the body but Switzer moves out of range.
Kushnirov missing with a left hand there. Switzer was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kushnirov misses with a looping left.
It looked like Switzer wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Switzer throws a low kick but Kushnirov avoids it.
Switzer takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Switzer checks a low kick from Kushnirov.
Kushnirov swings widly with a right hand
and Switzer counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Kushnirov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kushnirov tries to bum rush Switzer with a series of wild strikes but Switzer uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kushnirov throws the left hand but Switzer avoids the punch easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kushnirov looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Switzer throws a jab when Kushnirov was well out of range.
Kushnirov lands with a thumping leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Kushnirov.
Kushnirov throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Kushnirov is looking to score with low kicks.
We've been told by Switzer's head coaches at Black Swans that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Kushnirov throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Switzer connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kushnirov is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kushnirov lands with a straight right. Switzer didn't see that one coming.
Kushnirov motions for Switzer to come forward. Kushnirov throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Switzer takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Kushnirov misses with a hook. Switzer ducked under it nicely.
Switzer has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kushnirov.
Kushnirov throws a solid leg kick but Switzer takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kushnirov.
Kushnirov misses with an uppercut. Switzer saw that one coming.
Switzer defending well as Kushnirov loads up on a big left hand.
Kushnirov on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Nice uppercut lands for Kushnirov. That snapped Switzer's head back.
Switzer moves away from the strike by Kushnirov.
Kushnirov wants to slow Switzer down by chopping away at his legs.
Kushnirov doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kushnirov missing with a left hand there. Switzer was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Switzer throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Kushnirov to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kushnirov thows a leg kick but Switzer checks it
and Switzer counters with a nice uppercut.
Kushnirov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Switzer ducks right into an uppercut from Kushnirov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kushnirov fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Switzer is out of range.
Kushnirov throws a head kick that misses.
Kushnirov dips to his left and cracks Switzer with an uppercut!
A low kick from Kushnirov misses
and Switzer counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kushnirov swings for the body but Switzer moves out of range.
Switzer throws a shot from downtown. Kushnirov moves away and avoids it.
Kushnirov throws a lazy uppercut
and Switzer counters with a three punch combo that has Kushnirov backing up. Kushnirov nods at Switzer to acknowledge the strikes.
Kushnirov closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Kushnirov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kushnirov throws a head kick but Switzer moves out of range.
A big right from Switzer misses.
A swing and a miss from Switzer.
Kushnirov finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
It looked like Switzer was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Kushnirov.
Switzer gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Switzer moves out of range of the body kick from Kushnirov.
Switzer throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kushnirov looks to score with a jab to the body but Switzer is just out of range.
Kushnirov with a nice calf kick.
Kushnirov gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Switzer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kushnirov misses with a leg kick
letting Switzer counter with a right hand.
Kushnirov lands with a nice body kick.
Kushnirov thows a left - swing and a miss!
A nice combination there by Switzer.
Kushnirov throws a hook but Switzer blocks it.
Switzer checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
As Kushnirov looks to move away, Switzer throws a big counter combo but Kushnirov just gets out of the way.
Kushnirov thuds a left hand into Switzer's body.
Kushnirov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Switzer knocks Kushnirov to the floor with a head kick! Can he finish him!?

Kushnirov is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Switzer lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Kushnirov down.
Kushnirov is still in real trouble! Can Switzer finish him?

Switzer has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Kushnirov seems to have recovered his senses.
Kushnirov shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Switzer is looking to counter punch.
Switzer throws a body punch but Kushnirov moves out of range.
Kushnirov misses with a hook
and Switzer counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Switzer avoids the body shot from Kushnirov.
Kushnirov cracks a nice hook into Switzer's ribs.
Kushnirov throws a hook but Switzer blocks it.
An attempted straight right counter from Switzer misses the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kushnirov wants to slow Switzer down by chopping away at his legs.
Switzer scores with a hook to the body. Kushnirov takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Switzer misses with a hook.
Kushnirov misses with a looping right.
Kushnirov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Switzer misses with a series of wild punches.
Kushnirov throws a counter combo.
Kushnirov cracks a nice hook into Switzer's ribs.
Kushnirov walks into a stiff left hand from Switzer.
Switzer tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Switzer avoids a kick to the body.
Kushnirov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Switzer moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Switzer fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Kushnirov on the side of the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kushnirov misses with a looping right.
Switzer misses with a series of wild punches.
Kushnirov tries to bum rush Switzer with a series of wild strikes but Switzer uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Switzer swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
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.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kushnirov looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Switzer connects with a solid leg kick.
Switzer is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
A combination from Switzer does no damage.
Kushnirov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Switzer was well out of range. Poor timing from Kushnirov.
Nice straight punches there by Switzer. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Switzer.
A jab from Kushnirov misses.
Switzer pushes Kushnirov away with a front kick.
Kushnirov misses with a body shot.
Kushnirov misses with a kick to the body.
Kushnirov tried to score with a low kick but Switzer checks it.
Switzer is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Kushnirov throws a body kick that misses
and Switzer connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kushnirov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A good leg kick by Kushnirov.
A slow jab from Kushnirov misses its intended target.
Kushnirov throws a low kick, looking for Switzer's leg but Switzer calmly moves out of range.
Kushnirov motions for Switzer to come forward. Kushnirov throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kushnirov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Switzer moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kushnirov slips a jab from Switzer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Switzer lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Switzer takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A big left from Switzer misses.
Switzer swings for the body but Kushnirov moves out of range.
Kushnirov with the inside leg kick.
Switzer swings for the body but Kushnirov moves out of range.
Kushnirov gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Switzer.
Kushnirov connects with a good right hand that stumbles Switzer. Switzer circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Switzer blocks a jab.
A leg kick checked by Kushnirov.
Kushnirov throws a body punch but Switzer moves out of range.
Switzer takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A leg kick checked by Switzer.
Kushnirov misses with a straight right.
Switzer lands a head shot.
Ilya Kushnirov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Switzer throws a chopping leg kick but Kushnirov manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
A leg kick checked by Switzer.
Switzer was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Kushnirov throws a nice looking combination but Switzer bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Switzer uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Kushnirov throws a head kick that misses.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Kushnirov lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Switzer has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Switzer and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Kushnirov throws the left hand but Switzer avoids the punch easily.
Kushnirov throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Switzer stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Switzer connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Kushnirov misses with an uppercut. Switzer saw that one coming.
A quick step to the side and Switzer tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kushnirov avoids the body shot from Switzer.
Switzer misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kushnirov misses with a right hand
and Switzer counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Kyle Switzer is winning the standup battle so far.
Switzer cracks a nice hook into Kushnirov's ribs.
Kushnirov is breathing heavily.
Kushnirov lands with a kick to the temple. Switzer shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Kushnirov throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Switzer counters with a nice body shot.
A right-left combo lands from Switzer.
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.
Switzer checks a low kick from Kushnirov.
Switzer bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kushnirov's head backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crunch! Switzer slams his shin into Kushnirov's torso.
Kushnirov connects with a right hand. Switzer shakes it off.
Switzer uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kushnirov.
Switzer lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kushnirov at a distance.
Kushnirov lands with a kick to the temple. Switzer shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Nice body punch from Switzer.
Ohhhhh! A huge head kick from Switzer! Kushnirov is out on his feet! Switzer rushes in and throws more strikes. The ref is looking closely - Kushnirov is covering up but the punishment is just too much and the ref steps in to stop the fight! Kushnirov is staring into space, just thankful that the beatdown has ended. Brutal finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:29 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kyle Switzer!
Kyle Switzer decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.