PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Noah (ranked 5411 p4p, 5519 weight class) and Ilya Kushnirov (ranked 544 p4p, 549 weight class). Bruce Noah has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Noah
vs
Kushnirov

185 cm
25
180
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
19
195
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bruce Noah!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ilya Kushnirov!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Columbo Gatti and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Noah shoots in but Kushnirov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kushnirov lands a right hook to the body.
Kushnirov lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Noah backs up against the cage.

It looks like Bruce Noah has been cut.

Noah gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Our sources have told us that Noah has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Kushnirov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A frustrated look appears on Kushnirov's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kushnirov can't break the clinch.
Kushnirov managing to block the knees to the body from Noah.
Kushnirov is trying to force a seperation but Noah has the dominant position.

Kushnirov breaks from the clinch.

Noah has managed to clinch.
Kushnirov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kushnirov takes an elbow to the forehead.
Kushnirov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kushnirov avoids a wild elbow strike from Noah.
Kushnirov avoids a wild elbow strike from Noah.
Noah is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kushnirov is defending well for now.

Kushnirov breaks the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kushnirov scores with a sloppy right hand. Noah should have avoided that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noah tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Noah dives in and grabs Kushnirov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kushnirov pushes down on Noah's head and hops out.
Noah takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Noah takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Kushnirov uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Noah has time to react.
Kushnirov lands a nice shot to the body.
Noah throws a hook but Kushnirov avoids it easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Noah misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kushnirov.

Kushnirov breaks from the clinch.
Kushnirov moves into range and connects with a jab.
Kushnirov cracks Noah with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Noah clinches up against the cage.
Noah throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Noah tries to land knees in the clinch but Kushnirov avoids the damage to the body.
Kushnirov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kushnirov managing to block the knees to the body from Noah.
Kushnirov wants to break the clinch but can't.

Kushnirov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kushnirov scores with a sloppy right hand. Noah should have avoided that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kushnirov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Noah tries to clinch but Kushnirov moves out of range.
Noah tries to clinch but Kushnirov is having none of it.
Ilya Kushnirov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Noah drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
The fighters circle momentarily. Kushnirov darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Noah tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Kushnirov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Noah fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kushnirov lands with a nice body punch.
Kushnirov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Noah.
Kushnirov throws a one two combo.
Noah is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheers as Kushnirov lands an impressive looking overhand right. Noah doesn't seem phased though.
Noah throws a left and a right that both miss
and Kushnirov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Noah takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Noah walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Noah is rocked!
Kushnirov circles and sees the opportunity to plant his feet and throw a really nice straight left hand that drops Noah to the canvas! Noah doesn't know where he is but he's trying to survive - Kushnirov keeps piling on the pressure and forces the referee to step in! This one is aaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ilya Kushnirov!
A very excited looking Ilya Kushnirov rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.