PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Darnell Nurse (ranked 21219 p4p, 3809 weight class) and Igor Shevchenko (ranked 603 p4p, 460 weight class). Shevchenko has chosen Mouth For War - Pantera as his entrance music. Igor Shevchenko has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nurse
vs
Shevchenko

202 cm
30
270
12 - 9 - 0

190 cm
30
270
15 - 7 - 0

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Darnell Nurse!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Igor Shevchenko!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shevchenko falls off balance throwing a combination
and Nurse counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A swing and a miss from Shevchenko.
Shevchenko throws a shot from downtown. Nurse moves away and avoids it.
Nurse swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Nurse seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Nurse keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Shevchenko.
Nice uppercut lands for Nurse. That snapped Shevchenko's head back.
Nurse lands a jab to the head.
Shevchenko throws a hook but Nurse avoids it easily.
Nurse misses with a looping left.
A cross from Nurse lands.
Nurse looks to land a left hand but Shevchenko moved out of range nicely.
Nurse swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Shevchenko connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

It looks like Darnell Nurse has been cut.
Nurse moves out of range of the strikes.
An attempted straight right counter from Nurse misses the target.
Nurse cracks a nice hook into Shevchenko's ribs.
Shevchenko is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
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!
Nurse lands a nice shot to the body.
Shevchenko walks into a stiff left hand from Nurse.
Nurse scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Shevchenko moves out of range as Nurse strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurse swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Shevchenko throws an off balance right hand
and Nurse counters with a straight right hand.
Nurse throws a body punch but Shevchenko moves out of range.
Shevchenko moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Shevchenko misses with a head kick.
It looked like Nurse wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Nurse uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Shevchenko.
Nurse swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nice straight punches there by Nurse. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Nurse.
Shevchenko gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Nurse swings for the body but Shevchenko moves out of range.
Nurse misses with a hook.
Shevchenko misses with a telegraphed body shot
letting Nurse counter with a right hand.
Nurse throws a hook but Shevchenko avoids it easily.
Shevchenko drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A jab from Shevchenko finds it's way through Nurse's defenses.
Nurse works the jab nicely.
Darnell Nurse seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shevchenko avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurse looks to land a combination but Shevchenko avoids it well.
Nurse throws a body punch but Shevchenko moves out of range.
Nurse throws a nice looking combination but Shevchenko bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Shevchenko walks into a straight right hand from Nurse.

It looks like Igor Shevchenko has been cut.
Nurse's jab looks to have found its range, popping Shevchenko under the eye.
A telegraphed right hand from Shevchenko misses the target.
Nurse swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Nurse scores with a jab. Shevchenko acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Nurse misses with a shot to the body
and Shevchenko counters with a stiff right hand.
Nurse ducks under a wild hook from Shevchenko.
Nurse stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Shevchenko throws a big shot that misses.
Shevchenko misses with a head kick.
Shevchenko slips under a jab from Nurse.
Nurse lands an overhand right.
Nurse ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Shevchenko is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Nurse.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurse just misses with a punch to the body.
Shevchenko misses with a series of wild punches.
As Shevchenko looks to move away, Nurse throws a big counter combo but Shevchenko just gets out of the way.

Shevchenko darts in and clinches Nurse up against the ropes.
Still in the clinch, Shevchenko scores with a nice short uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Shevchenko.
A head punch on the inside from Shevchenko fails to land.
Shevchenko misses with a punch on the inside.
Shevchenko misses with a hook from the clinch.
Shevchenko tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nurse's elbow.
Nurse swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Shevchenko blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Shevchenko lands with a right to the head.
Shevchenko scores with a nice hook to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Nurse fails to land.
Nurse tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nurse.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Shevchenko.
A head punch on the inside from Shevchenko fails to land.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Shevchenko.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nurse struggles to land a body shot inside as Shevchenko controls his hands.
Shevchenko lands a body punch.
Nurse is trying to break the clinch but Shevchenko has him pressed against the ropes.
Shevchenko stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Nurse tries to throw a body punch but Shevchenko avoids it by throwing Nurse back against the ropes.
Nurse misses with a hook from the clinch.
Shevchenko lands with a short shot to the head.
Shevchenko cracks Nurse with a nice body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Shevchenko.
Shevchenko doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nurse prevents a body shot from Shevchenko.
Shevchenko blocking some punches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Darnell Nurse dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
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.

Nurse uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Shevchenko.
Nurse misses with a straight right.
Shevchenko might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Nurse!
Nurse defending well as Shevchenko loads up on a big left hand.
Nurse throws an off balance right hand
and Shevchenko counters with a stiff right hand.
Nurse cracks Shevchenko with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Nurse changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Shevchenko lands a nice looking body shot.
Shevchenko fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Nurse is out of range.
Nurse throws a body punch but Shevchenko moves out of range.
Nurse misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shevchenko.
Darnell Nurse is winning the standup battle so far.
Shevchenko throws a big shot that misses.
Shevchenko misses with a shot to the body
and Nurse counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Nurse is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shevchenko can do to turn this around?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A slow jab from Nurse misses its intended target.
Shevchenko throws a jab when Nurse was well out of range.
Nurse takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A jab lands there for Nurse.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurse cracks Shevchenko with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A nice inside leg kick there by Shevchenko. That's going to slow Nurse down.
Shevchenko has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Nurse lands a jab.
Good shot there by Nurse.
Nurse lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Shevchenko takes a jab right on the kisser.
Nurse is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Shevchenko throws a hook but Nurse avoids it easily.
Shevchenko ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nurse moves away.
Shevchenko connects with a solid leg kick.
Shevchenko ducks under a wild hook from Nurse.
Shevchenko thuds his right hand into Nurse's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Nurse checks the leg kick.
Nurse misses with a two punch combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nurse throws the left hand but Shevchenko avoids the punch easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurse throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Shevchenko is looking to chop away at Nurse's legs.
Nurse throws a hook but Shevchenko avoids it easily.
Nurse lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Shevchenko slips under a jab.
Nurse looks to land a right hand but Shevchenko moved out of range.
Shevchenko only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Shevchenko takes a swing at Nurse's ribcage but misses.
Nurse misses the jab.
Nurse throws a right and a left that both miss.
Shevchenko throws a sloppy head kick and Nurse moves out of range easily.
Shevchenko throws a leg kick but Nurse checks it.
Shevchenko throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Nurse avoids the head kick by Shevchenko.
Nurse slips a jab from Shevchenko.
Nurse misses with a wild body shot.
Shevchenko lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurse throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Shevchenko sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nurse throws an overhand right that lands on Shevchenko's shoulder, as Shevchenko tries to avoid the shot.
Nurse fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shevchenko manages to avoid it.
A swing and a miss from Nurse.
Shevchenko throws a head kick that misses.
Shevchenko throws a series of punches but Nurse avoids them all with ease.
Shevchenko works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Shevchenko with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Nurse throws a hook to the side of Shevchenko's head but Shevchenko sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A little jabbing left from Shevchenko on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Shevchenko uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nurse.
Shevchenko now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Nurse works Shevchenko's body with a nice hook.
Shevchenko throws a sloppy head kick and Nurse moves out of range easily.
Nurse throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Shevchenko steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nurse.
Shevchenko pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A jab from Nurse does it's job there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shevchenko slips under a jab.
Nurse connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nurse bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Shevchenko's head.
Left hook, right uppercut from Shevchenko.
A swing and a miss from Shevchenko.
Shevchenko dodges the punch combination from Nurse.
Shevchenko only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Shevchenko throws a series of punches but Nurse moves out of range.
Nurse was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Nurse displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Shevchenko throws out the jab.
Nurse is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Shevchenko.
Nurse scores with the left hand. Shevchenko knows he should have avoided that one.
Shevchenko lands a nice hook to Nurse's body. Nurse takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nurse uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Shevchenko.
Nurse throwing a counter right hand but Shevchenko manages to avoid it.
Nurse fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Shevchenko moves away from the strike by Nurse.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Darnell Nurse dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
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. This is the final round!

Nurse staying out of range there.
Nurse throws a right hand that misses
and Shevchenko counters with a stiff right hand.
Nurse moves out of range of the leg kick from Shevchenko.
Nurse slips a jab from Shevchenko.
Nurse misses with a looping left.
Shevchenko moves into range and connects with a jab.
A swing and a miss from Nurse.
Shevchenko loads up on a big right hand but Nurse slips the punch.
Shevchenko changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Nurse connects with a right hand. Shevchenko shakes it off.
A right-left combo lands from Nurse.
Nurse lands a nice looking body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Shevchenko misses the target.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nurse jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Shevchenko tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Nurse is able to avoid easily.
Shevchenko will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurse works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Nurse connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Nurse is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Shevchenko.
Nurse throws a body shot but no joy.
Shevchenko throws a shot from downtown. Nurse moves away and avoids it.
A little feinted left hand from Nurse on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Shevchenko throws a right and a left that both miss.
Shevchenko misses with a looping right.
Nurse displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Shevchenko throws out the jab.
Shevchenko tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nurse was well out of range. Poor timing from Shevchenko.
A swing and a miss from Nurse.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nurse. Shevchenko does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jab from Nurse.
Shevchenko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurse just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice jab there from Nurse.
Shevchenko lands with a thumping leg kick.
Shevchenko tries a head kick but it misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Nurse misses the target.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shevchenko shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Nurse misses with a few strikes there.
Shevchenko looks to throw the jab but Nurse is out of range.
Nurse pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nurse scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Nurse swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Shevchenko takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
A slow jab from Nurse misses its intended target.
Nurse misses with an uppercut.
Shevchenko lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Darnell Nurse's cut is getting worse.
Nurse with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nurse jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Shevchenko throws a hook to the side of Nurse's head but Nurse sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nurse throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nurse throws a looping overhand right but Shevchenko ducks down to avoid it.
Shevchenko scores with a nice strike.
Shevchenko walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Nurse throws a right hand that Shevchenko ducks under and follows up with a left that Shevchenko also avoids with ease.
Nurse keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Shevchenko.
Igor Shevchenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nurse moves away from the strike by Shevchenko.
Shevchenko misses with a wild combination.
Nurse walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Shevchenko cracks Nurse with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Shevchenko gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nurse slips under a jab.
Nurse scores with a hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nurse checks a leg kick.
Shevchenko dodges the punch combination from Nurse.
Shevchenko now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

Shevchenko has Nurse up against the ropes in a clinch.
Nurse gets through Shevchenko's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Shevchenko fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Nurse landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Shevchenko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nurse goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Nurse lands a left hand that snaps the head of Shevchenko backwards.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Shevchenko.
Nurse is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Shevchenko is defending well for now.
Shevchenko misses with a hook from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darnell Nurse showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nurse, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darnell Nurse!