PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight kickboxing rules bout between Israel Adesanya (ranked 2410 p4p, 2773 weight class) and Ruslan Danilov (ranked 139 p4p, 164 weight class). Adesanya comes into the arena with Israel Adesanya Entrance Music 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 Ruslan Danilov was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Adesanya
vs
Danilov

193 cm
28
184
17 - 6 - 1

185 cm
42
180
30 - 33 - 0

Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Ajax Cloth SALE $33
Hawaii Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 4 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Israel Adesanya!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 33 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ruslan Danilov!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Percy O'Donnell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Danilov misses with a body kick.
Adesanya tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Danilov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Adesanya throws a wild body kick that Danilov sees coming a mile off.
Adesanya lands a nice looking body shot.
We've been informed that Danilov has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Danilov slips a jab and a cross from Adesanya.
Danilov throws a combination that misses
and Adesanya counters with a stiff right hand.
Danilov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Adesanya counter with a right hand.
Danilov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Adesanya throws a body kick that misses.
Some wild striking there from Danilov.
Danilov doesn't manage to clinch there - Adesanya circles away.
Adesanya misses with an attempted mid kick.
Adesanya looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A big right from Danilov misses.
As Danilov looks to move away, Adesanya throws a big counter combo but Danilov just gets out of the way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Adesanya uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Danilov.

Danilov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Danilov taking a breather.
Danilov lands an uppercut.
Danilov tries to stall but Adesanya uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Danilov misses with a body punch.
Adesanya tries to circle away but Danilov has him pinned against the ropes.
Danilov struggles to land a body shot inside as Adesanya controls his hands.
Danilov struggles to land a body shot inside as Adesanya controls his hands.
Danilov tries to work over Adesanya's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Adesanya breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Danilov takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Adesanya moves out of range of the body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Adesanya avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Danilov throws a predictable looking body shot
and Danilov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Adesanya throws a head kick that misses.
Adesanya throws a push kick but Danilov slaps the foot to one side.
Jab from Adesanya.
Danilov walks forward, straight into a front kick from Adesanya.
A nice combination there by Adesanya.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Danilov looks to score with a jab to the body but Adesanya is just out of range.
Danilov lands a head kick!

It looks like Israel Adesanya has been cut.
Adesanya thuds his shin into the meat of Danilov's side.
Adesanya throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Danilov's head.
Danilov wants to clinch up but Adesanya keeps it at a distance.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Israel Adesanya dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Israel Adesanya's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Adesanya connects with a leg kick.

Danilov closes the distance and pushes Adesanya back into the ropes.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Danilov misses with a knee to the head.
Adesanya throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Danilov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Adesanya working hard to break the clinch.
Adesanya tries to break the clinch but Danilov is controlling the position.
Adesanya is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Danilov can do to turn this around?
Danilov tries to land knees in the clinch but Adesanya avoids the damage to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Adesanya breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Adesanya tries to clinch up.
A countering left hand to the body from Danilov misses.
Ruslan Danilov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Danilov is looking to land body kicks.
Adesanya throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Adesanya closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Israel Adesanya is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Danilov connects with a good right hand that stumbles Adesanya. Adesanya circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Adesanya throws a right and a left that Danilov avoids nicely.
Danilov looks for the body kick but Adesanya saw that one coming.
Danilov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Danilov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Adesanya was well out of range. Poor timing from Danilov.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Danilov 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 Adesanya has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Adesanya and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Danilov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Adesanya takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Danilov misses with a double jab
and Adesanya counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Danilov throws a series of strikes that have Adesanya backpedaling.
Danilov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Adesanya sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Adesanya is looking for a counter combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Adesanya cracks Danilov with a right hand to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Adesanya uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Danilov.
Adesanya throws a right and a left that both miss.
Danilov tries to clinch up.
Danilov throws a sloppy head kick
and Adesanya counters with a one-two to the body.
Danilov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Adesanya.
Adesanya throws a head kick but Danilov moves out of range.
Adesanya scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A decent looking cross lands there for Adesanya.
Adesanya throws a quick inside leg kick.
Adesanya throws a leg kick which misses Danilov's front leg but catches the back leg as Danilov tries to avoid it.
Adesanya scores with a hook to the body. Danilov takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Danilov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Adesanya is looking to counter the offense by Danilov and move into the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Israel Adesanya dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Israel Adesanya's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Adesanya thuds a left hand into Danilov's body.
Adesanya thuds his right hand into Danilov's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Danilov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Danilov tries a quick counter leg kick but Adesanya is wise to it.
Danilov doesn't manage to clinch there - Adesanya circles away.
An inside leg kick lands from Adesanya.
Danilov tries to clinch there but Adesanya circles away.
Danilov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Danilov throws a leg kick that is checked
and Adesanya connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Adesanya is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Danilov wants to clinch.
Danilov throws a head kick but Adesanya moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Danilov misses the body punch
and Adesanya counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Danilov needs to keep his hands up - Adesanya had a free shot at his head there.
Danilov tries to clinch

and before Danilov can reset, Adesanya rushes him with a swarm of punches, sending him crashing to the floor, in all sorts of trouble! Danilov is trying to beat the count but we're up to 6 already and he's nowhere near. 7,8... he's up! He's going to continue!
Danilov throws a head kick that misses
and Adesanya counters with a nice uppercut.
Adesanya lands a nice leg kick that just misses Danilov's sensitive parts.
Adesanya shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Danilov eats them both and turns towards Adesanya to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Danilov is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Adesanya lands a really nice looking cross but Danilov seems unphased.
Danilov is still on wobbly legs! Can Adesanya finish him?
Israel Adesanya is winning the standup battle so far.
Adesanya throws a head kick that misses.
Sloppy strikes from Adesanya. Those never looked like landing.
Danilov seems to have recovered his senses.
Danilov throws a body kick that misses.
Danilov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A quick step to the side and Adesanya tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Danilov throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Danilov throws a hook but Adesanya avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Adesanya lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Danilov connects with a solid leg kick.
Adesanya walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Danilov checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Danilov throws a right hand that misses

and Adesanya counters with a big 3 punch combo that drops Danilov on his ass! Danilov wobbles back to his feet half way through the count and though looking a bit dazed, the referee is going to allow the fight to continue!
Danilov throws a poor cross that misses
and Adesanya counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Danilov thinking.
Danilov misses with a lunging right hand
and Adesanya counters with a lead uppercut that lands right on the button! Danilov goes down! Will Danilov beat the count? 3,4,5,6,7,8... he's not going to make it! 9,10! He's out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punch). Israel Adesanya!
During a confident post fight interview, Israel Adesanya thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.