PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yevgeny Ignatov (ranked 530 p4p, 238 weight class) and Salomon Mukunzi (ranked 69 p4p, 30 weight class). Mukunzi has chosen Champion (ft. D Smoke) - Fireboy DML as his entrance music. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Salomon Mukunzi enters the cage!

Ignatov
vs
Mukunzi

189 cm
34
194
28 - 19 - 0

178 cm
34
197
22 - 12 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Conviction

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 28 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Yevgeny Ignatov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Salomon Mukunzi!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Chris Saunders and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mukunzi lands a jab to the nose.
Ignatov lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Mukunzi misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Ignatov counters with an outside leg kick.
Ignatov looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Ignatov on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Ignatov thows a leg kick but Mukunzi checks it
and Mukunzi counters with a good low kick that Ignatov was not able to check.
A nice inside leg kick there by Mukunzi. That's going to slow Ignatov down.
Mukunzi tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ignatov misses with a two punch combination.
Mukunzi misses with a hook. Ignatov ducked under it nicely.
Ignatov misses with a kick to the body
and Mukunzi finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
We've been informed that Mukunzi 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ignatov throws a lazy uppercut
and Mukunzi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mukunzi takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Ignatov misses with a kick to the body.
Mukunzi misses with a hook. Ignatov ducked under it nicely.
Ignatov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mukunzi lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Ignatov scores with a kick to the body.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Ignatov misses with a hook
and Mukunzi counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mukunzi lands with a thumping leg kick.
Mukunzi fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Ignatov throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ignatov throws a quick inside leg kick.
Ignatov throws a leg kick that misses.
A little jabbing left from Mukunzi on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Mukunzi is looking to score with low kicks.
Ignatov throws a head kick that misses.
Mukunzi throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ignatov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Mukunzi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ignatov throws a leg kick
and Mukunzi counters with a good, hard body kick but Ignatov shrugs it off.
Mukunzi lands a nice looking body shot.
Mukunzi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Mukunzi throws out a powerful jab.
Mukunzi fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Mukunzi is looking to slow Ignatov down with leg kicks.
Mukunzi pushes Ignatov away with a front kick.
Ignatov is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ignatov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Mukunzi.
Mukunzi bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Ignatov's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mukunzi thuds a left hand into Ignatov's body.
Mukunzi lands a slapping body shot.
Mukunzi moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Ignatov just misses with a punch to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mukunzi. Ignatov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ignatov swings for the body but Mukunzi moves out of range.
Mukunzi feints a counter leg kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Salomon Mukunzi dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ignatov throws a leg kick
and Mukunzi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ignatov 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.
Ignatov motions for Mukunzi to come forward. Ignatov throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Ignatov connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Ignatov feints and then cracks Mukunzi's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Mukunzi down.
Ignatov tries to land a front kick but Mukunzi steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Ignatov pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mukunzi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A little feinted left hand from Ignatov on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Mukunzi throws a body shot but no joy.
An attempted straight right counter from Ignatov misses the target.
Ignatov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mukunzi misses with a looping left.
Salomon Mukunzi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mukunzi attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Mukunzi missing with a left hand there. Ignatov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ignatov misses with a left hand
and Mukunzi counters with a nice body kick.
Mukunzi stuns Ignatov with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A nice leg kick lands there from Ignatov.
Ignatov gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Ignatov misses with a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ignatov throws a good cross that connects.
Mukunzi checks the leg kick.
Mukunzi throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Ignatov is looking to counter punch.
Mukunzi misses with an uppercut. Ignatov saw that one coming.
Ignatov throws a jab when Mukunzi was well out of range.
Ignatov throws a body shot but no joy.
Mukunzi with a jab.
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!
Mukunzi misses with a wild body shot.
Ignatov swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mukunzi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ignatov.
A counter left hand to the body from Ignatov misses its target.
Ignatov misses with a kick to the body.
Mukunzi thuds a left hand into Ignatov's body.
Ignatov tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Ignatov throws a solid leg kick but Mukunzi takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Ignatov.
Ignatov throws out a leg kick but Mukunzi moves out of range and Ignatov only half commits.
Mukunzi follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Mukunzi with a nice calf kick.
Mukunzi throws a shot from downtown. Ignatov moves away and avoids it.
A little feinted left hand from Ignatov on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ignatov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Mukunzi.
Mukunzi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ignatov is looking to counter punch.
Mukunzi throws a jab but it's blocked by Ignatov.
Ignatov appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Ignatov throws a head kick that misses
and Mukunzi counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Ignatov thows a leg kick but Mukunzi checks it
letting Mukunzi counter with a right hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ignatov misses with a right hand
and Mukunzi counters with a stiff right hand.
Ignatov slips under a jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Salomon Mukunzi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Mukunzi misses with an uppercut. Ignatov saw that one coming.
Mukunzi scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Mukunzi checks the leg kick.
Ignatov throws a shot from downtown. Mukunzi moves away and avoids it.
Mukunzi now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Mukunzi ducks under a wild hook from Ignatov.
Mukunzi looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Ignatov misses with an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mukunzi takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Mukunzi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ignatov circles away quickly and effectively.
Mukunzi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ignatov takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Mukunzi tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Ignatov is able to avoid easily.
Mukunzi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ignatov.
Ignatov throws a lazy uppercut
and Mukunzi counters with a left to the body.
Mukunzi bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mukunzi misses with an uppercut.
Ignatov on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Mukunzi fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Yevgeny Ignatov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mukunzi throws a quick inside leg kick.
Mukunzi on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Mukunzi avoids the body shot from Ignatov.
Mukunzi lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ignatov's sensitive parts.
Jab from Mukunzi.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head kick misses from Ignatov.
A lazy body kick from Ignatov
and Mukunzi counters with an inside leg kick.
Ignatov is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Ignatov misses with a lunging right hand
and Mukunzi counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mukunzi lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Ignatov at a distance.
Mukunzi throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Salomon Mukunzi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A decent looking cross lands there for Mukunzi.
Ignatov takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Mukunzi cracks a nice hook into Ignatov's ribs.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Ignatov might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Ignatov gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Ignatov misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mukunzi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Mukunzi swings for the body but Ignatov moves out of range.
Mukunzi tries to land a front kick but Ignatov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Ignatov is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Ignatov takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Ignatov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mukunzi.
A little feinted left hand from Ignatov on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Mukunzi connects with a body shot.
Ignatov takes a head kick and keeps coming.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mukunzi lands with a kick to the temple. Ignatov shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

And that's the end of the fight!
Salomon Mukunzi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mukunzi has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Salomon Mukunzi!
After winning the bout, Salomon Mukunzi thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.