PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Principo Adam (ranked 570 p4p, 691 weight class) and Ilya Kushnirov (ranked 85 p4p, 104 weight class). Adam comes into the arena with Dona Eis Requiem blaring out of the sound system. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Ilya Kushnirov was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Adam
vs
Kushnirov

185 cm
25
188
10 - 3 - 0

175 cm
24
195
10 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

PWNAGE™

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 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Principo Adam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ilya Kushnirov!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Paulo Santos and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kushnirov throws a hook but Adam avoids it easily.
Adam misses with a combination
and Kushnirov counters with a big head kick but Adam shrugs it off.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Kushnirov.
Adam's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Kushnirov connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Adam scrambles back to his feet.

Adam moves into the clinch.

Kushnirov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kushnirov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Adam.

Adam drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Adam won't allow Kushnirov to get back to his feet.
Kushnirov told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Adam seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Adam is in close to Kushnirov's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Adam looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kushnirov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Adam content to stall in guard here.
Adam with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Adam stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kushnirov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Adam passes Kushnirov's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Adam drops an elbow to the side of Kushnirov's head.
Kushnirov is trying to stand.
Kushnirov wants to get back to full guard.
Kushnirov wants to get back to his feet.
Kushnirov wants to improve his position but Adam is controlling well.
Kushnirov wants to control but Adam is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Adam is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Kushnirov moves out of range as Adam strikes.
Kushnirov throws out a loose jab but Adam uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kushnirov scores with a hook to the body. Adam takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Adam blocks a leg kick.
Kushnirov throws a sloppy head kick and Adam moves out of range easily.
Kushnirov throws a lazy uppercut

and Adam decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kushnirov's guard.

Adam drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Adam jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Adam not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Adam lands a couple of digs.
Adam won't allow Kushnirov to sweep him here.
Kushnirov is trying to keep Adam in close.
Adam controlling from the top position.

Kushnirov is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Adam has Kushnirov pressed against the cage, preventing Kushnirov from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Kushnirov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Adam has him pressed against the cage.
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 the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Kushnirov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kushnirov throws a series of punches but Adam avoids them all with ease.
Nice body kick there by Kushnirov.
Adam looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Kushnirov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Adam.
Kushnirov takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Kushnirov lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Kushnirov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Adam.
Kushnirov needs to keep his hands up - Adam had a free shot at his head there.
Adam throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kushnirov on the side of the head.
Kushnirov throws a body punch but Adam moves out of range.
Adam with a nice cross.
Kushnirov throws a nice outside leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Adam waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kushnirov.
Adam fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ilya Kushnirov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Good shot there by Kushnirov.
A swing and a miss from Kushnirov.
Kushnirov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Adam.
Kushnirov swings for the body but Adam moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Adam blocks a jab.
A head kick from Kushnirov lands but Adam takes it in his stride.
Kushnirov lunges at Adam with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Adam's hand.
Adam ducks under a wild hook from Kushnirov.
A quick step to the side and Adam tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kushnirov avoids the body shot from Adam.
Ilya Kushnirov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Adam connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Adam lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Adam throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Adam changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kushnirov looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Kushnirov throws Adam to one side and escapes!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kushnirov misses the shot to the body.
Adam tries to counter with a takedown but Kushnirov is quick to defend against it.
Kushnirov throws a series of punches but Adam avoids them all with ease.
Adam works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Adam dives in for a single leg takedown but Kushnirov sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kushnirov's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Adam tries to pull guard but Kushnirov won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Principo Adam. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kushnirov manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Adam fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A clash of legs there as Adam blocks the low kick.
Kushnirov misses with a hook.
Kushnirov will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Adam tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Kushnirov manages to circle out of the way.
Kushnirov misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Adam counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kushnirov moves out of range of the strikes.
Kushnirov misses with a body shot.
Adam lands with a hook. Kushnirov tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Kushnirov throws a jab when Adam was well out of range.
Kushnirov fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Adam checks it well.
The fighters circle momentarily. Kushnirov darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
A jab from Kushnirov misses.
Kushnirov misses with a looping left.
A counter left hand to the body from Adam misses its target.
Adam keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kushnirov.
Kushnirov lands a leg kick that knocks Adam off balance momentarily.
Adam slips a jab from Kushnirov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kushnirov getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Kushnirov throws the kick towards the body but Adam avoids it.
Adam swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Adam looks to score with a jab to the body but Kushnirov is just out of range.
Kushnirov cracks a nice hook into Adam's ribs.
Kushnirov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Adam.
Kushnirov is looking to score with low kicks.
Kushnirov tries to work over Adam's front leg with a kick but Adam checks it.
Adam lands a nice hook to Kushnirov's body. Kushnirov takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Kushnirov misses with a leg kick
and Adam counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kushnirov misses with a straight left.
Kushnirov lands a jab to Adam's midsection.
Some bone on bone action there as Adam checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Adam darts in looking for a takedown but Kushnirov gets double underhooks and turns Adam into the cage.
Adam misses with a body punch.
Adam lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Nice body punch from Adam - that landed with a thud.
Kushnirov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Adam is defending well for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kushnirov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Adam is working for takedown but Kushnirov is calmly controlling the position for now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kushnirov takes a shot to the head.
Adam is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kushnirov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Adam misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Kushnirov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Adam swings for the body but Kushnirov moves out of range.
Kushnirov throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Adam counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Adam throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kushnirov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A big right from Kushnirov misses.
It looked like Adam wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Adam avoids the body shot from Kushnirov.
Ilya Kushnirov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Adam cracks Kushnirov with a right hand to the side of the head.
Adam is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Adam scores with a nice right hand.
Adam bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Adam checks a leg kick.
Adam blocks a jab.
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.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Adam slips under a jab.
Adam is looking to counter the offense by Kushnirov and move into the clinch.
Kushnirov throws an overhand right that lands on Adam's shoulder, as Adam tries to avoid the shot.
Kushnirov throws a chopping leg kick but Adam manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
A cross from Adam lands.
Kushnirov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kushnirov has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Kushnirov there as he acknowledges the shot.
Adam throws a jab but it's blocked by Kushnirov.
Kushnirov finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Kushnirov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Adam to counter with a crisp jab.
Adam fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Kushnirov swinging wildly here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kushnirov takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Adam defending well as Kushnirov loads up on a big left hand.
Adam fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kushnirov jabs Adam to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Adam throws a big shot that misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kushnirov! But no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Adam slips a straight right by Kushnirov.

Adam is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Kushnirov's half guard.
Adam trying to pass the guard but Kushnirov defending well.
Kushnirov is looking to escape.
Adam scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Adam lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Adam looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Principo Adam overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Adam is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kushnirov has managed to free his arm - good work.
Adam scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Adam is trying to work for a kimura but Kushnirov is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kushnirov is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Adam working over Kushnirov with some ground and pound. Kushnirov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Kushnirov wants to sweep but Adam has passed to side control!

Adam wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kushnirov, who protects the arm well.

Adam is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Kushnirov is trying to escape and Adam transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Kushnirov is forced to tap! Nice work there by Adam! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Principo Adam!
Principo Adam was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.