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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ilya Kushnirov (ranked 962 p4p, 1331 weight class) and Kim Kitsuragi (ranked 122 p4p, 166 weight class). 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.
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| 175 cm
32
195
20 - 16 - 0 |
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183 cm
32
185
16 - 10 - 1 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick |
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Good wrestler
World class MT
Powerful |
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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 20 - 16 - 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 16 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kim Kitsuragi !
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Donald Grub and James Atkins.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kitsuragi throws a body shot but no joy.
Kushnirov is looking to clinch but Kitsuragi is avoiding it.
Kushnirov gets a clinch.
Kitsuragi scores with a shoulder strike.
Kitsuragi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kushnirov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kushnirov breaks the clinch.
Kitsuragi swats away the attempt to clinch by Kushnirov.
Kushnirov is looking to clinch.
Kitsuragi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kitsuragi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kushnirov.
Kushnirov has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Kushnirov there as he acknowledges the shot.
Kushnirov moves in looking to clinch but Kitsuragi pushes him off.
Kushnirov takes the fight into the clinch.
Kitsuragi can't find room to land a body shot as Kushnirov controls the action.
Kushnirov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kitsuragi gets tackled into the cage by Kushnirov. Kushnirov maintains the clinch.
Kitsuragi lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kushnirov backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kushnirov manages to break the clinch.
Kushnirov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kitsuragi .
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kushnirov tries to clinch up.
Kitsuragi is looking for the big counter here.
Kushnirov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kushnirov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kitsuragi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Kushnirov wants to clinch.
Kitsuragi let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Kitsuragi cracks Kushnirov with a right hand to the side of the head.
Ilya Kushnirov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kushnirov tries to clinch but Kitsuragi moves out of range.
Kushnirov tries to clinch but Kitsuragi is having none of it.
Kushnirov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kushnirov is looking to clinch.
Kushnirov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kitsuragi throws a body shot but no joy.
Kitsuragi jabs Kushnirov to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Kitsuragi swinging wildly here.
Kitsuragi misses with a looping right.
A big left from Kitsuragi misses.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kushnirov takes the fight into the clinch.
Kushnirov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kitsuragi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kushnirov tries to clinch up.
Kitsuragi looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kushnirov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kitsuragi misses with an uppercut. Kushnirov saw that one coming.
Kushnirov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
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!
Kitsuragi jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kushnirov walks away with a smile on his face. Kitsuragi gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Kushnirov tries to clinch but Kitsuragi moves out of range.
Kushnirov is looking to clinch.
Kitsuragi tests Kushnirov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kushnirov takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kushnirov moves into the clinch successfully.
Kushnirov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kushnirov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kitsuragi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kushnirov moves in looking to clinch but Kitsuragi pushes him off.
Kushnirov throws out a leg kick but Kitsuragi moves out of range and Kushnirov only half commits.
Kushnirov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kitsuragi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
It seemed like Kitsuragi was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kitsuragi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kushnirov.
Kushnirov tries to close the distance and clinch but Kitsuragi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kushnirov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kitsuragi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kitsuragi misses with a two punch combination.
Kushnirov tries to clinch but Kitsuragi moves out of range.
Kushnirov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kitsuragi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kitsuragi lands an overhand right.
Kitsuragi throws a body shot but no joy.
Kitsuragi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kushnirov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kushnirov is looking to clinch.
Kushnirov takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Kitsuragi throws a jab when Kushnirov was well out of range.
Kushnirov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kitsuragi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kushnirov takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Kitsuragi throws a lazy right hand but Kushnirov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kushnirov tries to close the distance and clinch but Kitsuragi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kushnirov rushes Kitsuragi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kitsuragi working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kushnirov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kushnirov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kitsuragi swats away the attempt to clinch by Kushnirov.
Kushnirov clinches up with Kitsuragi and pushes him back against the cage.
A short left from Kushnirov.
Kushnirov breaks the clinch.
The fighters circling - Kitsuragi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kitsuragi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kitsuragi throws a series of punches but Kushnirov moves out of range.
Kitsuragi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kushnirov forces Kitsuragi back against the cage and clinches.
Kushnirov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kitsuragi misses with a punch on the inside.
Kushnirov working aggressively here.
Kitsuragi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kushnirov working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kitsuragi jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kushnirov walks away with a smile on his face. Kitsuragi gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Kim Kitsuragi dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Kitsuragi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kushnirov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kushnirov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kitsuragi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kushnirov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kitsuragi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kitsuragi swats away the attempt to clinch by Kushnirov.
Kitsuragi fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kushnirov has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Kushnirov doesn't manage to clinch there - Kitsuragi circles away.
Kushnirov wants to clinch but Kitsuragi slips to the side
and Kitsuragi counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Kushnirov slips a straight right by Kitsuragi .
Kushnirov tries to close the distance and clinch but Kitsuragi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kitsuragi misses with a few strikes there.
Kitsuragi throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kushnirov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kitsuragi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kushnirov tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Kitsuragi counters with a nice leg kick.
Kushnirov tries to close the distance and clinch but Kitsuragi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kitsuragi throws a big shot that misses.
Ilya Kushnirov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kitsuragi takes a body punch but keeps moving.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kitsuragi throws a lazy right hand but Kushnirov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kushnirov is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Kitsuragi .
Kushnirov tries to clinch up but Kitsuragi circles away and keeps his distance.
Kitsuragi looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kushnirov instigates a clinch.
Kushnirov breaks from the clinch.
Kitsuragi lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Jab by Kitsuragi .
Kitsuragi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kushnirov.
Kushnirov is looking to clinch but Kitsuragi is avoiding it.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Kitsuragi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kitsuragi throws a body punch but Kushnirov moves out of range.
Kushnirov wants to clinch.
Kitsuragi cracks Kushnirov with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Kitsuragi keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Kitsuragi keeps the fight on the outside.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kitsuragi thows a body kick. Kushnirov tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Kitsuragi turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kitsuragi missing with a left hand there. Kushnirov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kitsuragi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kitsuragi flicks out a counter leg kick but Kushnirov steps away.
Kushnirov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kushnirov doesn't manage to clinch there - Kitsuragi circles away.
Kim Kitsuragi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kitsuragi avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Kushnirov backing away here, and Kitsuragi unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Kitsuragi looks to land a left hand but Kushnirov moved out of range nicely.
Kushnirov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kitsuragi lunges at Kushnirov with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kushnirov's hand.
Kushnirov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kushnirov slips a straight right by Kitsuragi .
Kushnirov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kitsuragi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kushnirov wants to clinch
and Kushnirov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kushnirov doesn't manage to clinch there - Kitsuragi circles away.
Kushnirov doesn't manage to clinch there - Kitsuragi circles away.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kitsuragi misses the shot to the body.
Kushnirov wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Kushnirov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kushnirov tries to clinch but Kitsuragi moves out of range.
Kitsuragi keeps the fight on the outside.
Kushnirov takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Kushnirov avoids the body shot from Kitsuragi .
Kitsuragi lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Kushnirov wants to clinch
and Kushnirov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kitsuragi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kushnirov moves away.
Kushnirov connects with a right hand. Kitsuragi shakes it off.
Kushnirov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Donk. Kitsuragi catches Kushnirov right on the button with a cross.
Kushnirov closes the distance and clinches.
Kitsuragi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kitsuragi lands a body punch in the clinch.
Kushnirov blocking some punches.
Kitsuragi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ilya Kushnirov has scored more points in the clinch so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A nice right hand lands inside from Kushnirov.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kitsuragi lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Kushnirov or not.
Kitsuragi lands a right hand.
Kushnirov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kushnirov takes a shot to the head.
Kitsuragi can't find room to land a body shot as Kushnirov controls the action.
Kushnirov blocking some punches.
Nice body punch from Kitsuragi .
Kitsuragi lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kushnirov manages to break the clinch.
Kushnirov tries to close the distance and clinch but Kitsuragi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Some wild striking there from Kitsuragi .
Kitsuragi misses with a body shot.
A shot to the liver by Kitsuragi . Beautiful body shot.
Kushnirov tries to clinch
and Kitsuragi counters with a low kick, right behind Kushnirov 's knee.
Kushnirov missing with a left hand there. Kitsuragi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kitsuragi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kushnirov.
Kushnirov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kitsuragi .
Kushnirov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kitsuragi .
Kitsuragi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Kim Kitsuragi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!
Kushnirov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kushnirov moves into the clinch.
Kitsuragi lands a right hand.
Kushnirov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kitsuragi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kitsuragi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kushnirov blocking some punches.
A short right from Kushnirov on the inside.
Kitsuragi misses with a punch to the body.
Kitsuragi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kitsuragi .
Kushnirov gets through Kitsuragi 's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
I was talking to Kushnirov's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Kushnirov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kushnirov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kitsuragi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kushnirov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kushnirov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kushnirov has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kitsuragi finds it's way round the side to connect with Kushnirov's head.
Kitsuragi throws a jab but it's blocked by Kushnirov.
Kushnirov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kitsuragi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kitsuragi keeps the fight on the outside.
Kushnirov is looking to clinch but Kitsuragi is avoiding it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kitsuragi ! But no joy.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kitsuragi getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Kitsuragi looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Kushnirov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kitsuragi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kushnirov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kitsuragi swats away the attempt to clinch by Kushnirov.
Kitsuragi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kitsuragi now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kushnirov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kitsuragi throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kushnirov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kitsuragi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kitsuragi scores with a nice head shot.
Kitsuragi 's jab looks to have found its range, popping Kushnirov under the eye.
Kushnirov wants to clinch.
Ilya Kushnirov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kitsuragi cracks Kushnirov with an open hand slap.
Kitsuragi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kitsuragi swings for the body but Kushnirov moves out of range.
A slow jab from Kitsuragi misses its intended target.
A shot to the liver by Kitsuragi . Beautiful body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kushnirov is looking to clinch.
Kitsuragi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kushnirov is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Kitsuragi .
Kitsuragi connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kushnirov momentarily.
Kushnirov takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Kitsuragi cracks Kushnirov with a good jab.
Kushnirov takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kushnirov wants to clinch up but Kitsuragi keeps it at a distance.
Kushnirov tries to clinch but Kitsuragi moves out of range.
Kushnirov wants to clinch.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kitsuragi connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Decent striking displayed by Kitsuragi there.
Kushnirov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kitsuragi looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kushnirov attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Kushnirov wants to clinch.
Kitsuragi keeps the fight on the outside.
Kitsuragi misses the shot to the body.
Nice shot by Kitsuragi .
Kushnirov takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Kushnirov looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Kitsuragi tests Kushnirov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kushnirov has Kitsuragi up against the cage in a clinch.
Kushnirov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kitsuragi connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Kushnirov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kushnirov wants to clinch.
Kitsuragi cracks Kushnirov with a right hand to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Good exchange - Kitsuragi coming out on top.
Kitsuragi lands a jab to the head.
Kushnirov tries to close the distance and clinch but Kitsuragi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kushnirov wants to clinch
and Kitsuragi counters with a straight right hand.
Kitsuragi throws a looping overhand right but Kushnirov ducks down to avoid it.
Kushnirov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kushnirov moves into the clinch.
Kushnirov working aggressively here.
Kitsuragi is leaning against Kushnirov and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
And that's the end of the fight!
Kim Kitsuragi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kitsuragi winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kim Kitsuragi !
A very excited looking Kim Kitsuragi made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
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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
67% |
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