PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Edward Grubbs (ranked 924 p4p, 1035 weight class) and Ilya Kushnirov (ranked 134 p4p, 156 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Grubbs
vs
Kushnirov

183 cm
22
195
6 - 4 - 0

175 cm
24
195
9 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

High Peak Fightwear

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Edward Grubbs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ilya Kushnirov!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grubbs misses with a hook.
Kushnirov goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Grubbs connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Kushnirov misses with a hook. Grubbs ducked under it nicely.
We've been told by Grubbs's head coaches at New York Public Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Grubbs throws a right hand that Kushnirov ducks under and follows up with a left that Kushnirov also avoids with ease.
Grubbs throws a lazy uppercut
letting Kushnirov counter with a right hand.
Kushnirov misses the shot to the body.
Kushnirov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Grubbs counters with a right hand to the body.
Grubbs is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kushnirov.
Kushnirov on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Kushnirov throws out a loose jab but Grubbs uses good head movement to avoid it.
Grubbs gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Kushnirov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kushnirov thuds his right hand into Grubbs's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Kushnirov fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Grubbs looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A good leg kick by Kushnirov.
Kushnirov swings for the body but Grubbs moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kushnirov tries to work over Grubbs's front leg with a kick but Grubbs checks it.
Kushnirov misses with an attempted mid kick.
Grubbs takes a swing at Kushnirov's ribcage but misses.
Grubbs dodges the punch combination from Kushnirov.
A counter left hand to the body from Grubbs misses its target.
Grubbs uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kushnirov.
Grubbs has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kushnirov.
Some bone on bone action there as Grubbs checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Kushnirov misses with a body shot.
Grubbs throws out a loose jab but Kushnirov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Grubbs connects with a looping right hand.
Kushnirov works over Grubbs's head and body with a nice combination.
Kushnirov moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Kushnirov moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kushnirov avoids the body shot from Grubbs.
Kushnirov thuds a left hand into Grubbs's body.
Kushnirov misses with an uppercut. Grubbs saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grubbs throws out a loose jab but Kushnirov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Grubbs throws a hook to the side of Kushnirov's head but Kushnirov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kushnirov throws a jab but it's blocked by Grubbs.
Kushnirov scores with a nice strike.
Grubbs takes a swing at Kushnirov's ribcage but misses.
Kushnirov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Grubbs.
Grubbs throwing a counter right hand but Kushnirov manages to avoid it.
Kushnirov looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Grubbs is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Grubbs looks to throw the jab but Kushnirov is out of range.
Grubbs bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A big left from Kushnirov misses.
A little feinted left hand from Grubbs on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Kushnirov slips under a jab from Grubbs.
The fighters circling - Kushnirov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kushnirov moves away from the strike by Grubbs.
Grubbs swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kushnirov misses with a wild body shot.
Grubbs walks into a stiff left hand from Kushnirov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Kushnirov.
Kushnirov moves out of range as Grubbs strikes.
Grubbs lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
A big left from Grubbs misses.
Edward Grubbs seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Grubbs moves out of range as Kushnirov throws a body kick.
Grubbs throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Kushnirov counters with a good, hard body kick but Grubbs shrugs it off.
Grubbs with a nice cross.
Grubbs catches Kushnirov with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Grubbs bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Grubbs lands a nice shot to the body.
Grubbs ducks under a wild hook from Kushnirov.
Grubbs takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Kushnirov takes a swing at Grubbs's ribcage but misses.
Grubbs checks the leg kick nicely there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kushnirov slips under a jab from Grubbs.
Kushnirov is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Grubbs with a body shot.
Kushnirov jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grubbs misses with a right hand
and Kushnirov counters with a nice low kick that buckles Grubbs's knee momentarily.
Kushnirov lands with an uppercut that bounces Grubbs off the cage and back into range.
Kushnirov slips under a jab.
A countering left hand to the body from Kushnirov misses.
Grubbs avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kushnirov stuns Grubbs with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A big left from Grubbs misses.
Kushnirov appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kushnirov. Grubbs does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kushnirov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Grubbs misses with a hook
and Kushnirov counters with a nice uppercut.
Grubbs misses with a hook
and Kushnirov counters with a leg kick.
Kushnirov missing with a left hand there. Grubbs was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Grubbs scores with a jab to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A jab from Kushnirov misses.
Grubbs jabs at Kushnirov's body.
A big left from Grubbs misses.
Grubbs checks a low kick from Kushnirov.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ilya Kushnirov dominated that round.
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.

Grubbs with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Grubbs looks to land a left hand but Kushnirov moved out of range nicely.
Kushnirov on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Grubbs throws a hook but Kushnirov blocks it.
Grubbs moves out of range of the strikes.
A swing and a miss from Grubbs.
Kushnirov throws a combination. Grubbs tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Grubbs throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Grubbs might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Kushnirov bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Grubbs's head backwards.
Kushnirov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kushnirov staying out of range there.
A nice side step and Kushnirov releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Grubbs dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Grubbs bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kushnirov misses with an attempted mid kick.
Kushnirov lands with a straight right. Grubbs didn't see that one coming.
Kushnirov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Grubbs.
Grubbs slips a jab and a cross from Kushnirov.
It looked like Grubbs wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Ilya Kushnirov seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kushnirov throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Grubbs.
Kushnirov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kushnirov throws a head kick that misses.
Grubbs scores with a jab.
Kushnirov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Grubbs takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Kushnirov 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 Grubbs has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Grubbs and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
It looked like Grubbs wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kushnirov misses with a head kick.
Kushnirov walks into a left hand.
Grubbs misses with a double jab
and Kushnirov counters with a nice body kick.
Grubbs misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Kushnirov counters with a nice uppercut.
Kushnirov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Grubbs keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Grubbs cracks Kushnirov with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kushnirov defending well as Grubbs loads up on a big left hand.
Grubbs looks to score with a jab to the body but Kushnirov is just out of range.
Grubbs tries to move into range but Kushnirov moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Grubbs throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Grubbs takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Kushnirov scores with a spinning back kick!
Grubbs blocks the body kick.
Kushnirov tries to bum rush Grubbs with a series of wild strikes but Grubbs uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Grubbs misses with a straight left.
Grubbs misses with a left hand
and Grubbs takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kushnirov takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Kushnirov misses with a low kick as Grubbs jumps back.
Kushnirov connects with a single shot there.
Kushnirov throws a nice outside leg kick.
Grubbs rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kushnirov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Donk. Grubbs catches Kushnirov right on the button with a cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Kushnirov.
Kushnirov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Grubbs scores with a jab. Kushnirov acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Grubbs on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kushnirov. Kushnirov obviously looking to wear him down.
Nice jab there from Grubbs.
Grubbs throws a jab but it's blocked by Kushnirov.
Grubbs ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Grubbs avoids a kick to the body.
Grubbs throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kushnirov counters with a series of strikes. Grubbs will be more careful next time no doubt.
Kushnirov ducks under a wild hook from Grubbs.
Kushnirov lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Grubbs misses with a looping left.
Grubbs throws a nice looking combination but Kushnirov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Grubbs tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kushnirov was well out of range. Poor timing from Grubbs.
Grubbs throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kushnirov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Grubbs works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grubbs fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Kushnirov on the side of the head.
Grubbs missing with a left hand there. Kushnirov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Grubbs avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kushnirov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Grubbs just misses with a punch to the body.
A little jabbing left from Kushnirov on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Grubbs throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kushnirov on the side of the head.
Kushnirov slips a jab and a cross from Grubbs.
Grubbs thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kushnirov feints and then cracks Grubbs's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Grubbs down.
Kushnirov scores with a spinning back kick!
Kushnirov looks to land a combination. Grubbs sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Grubbs with a nice cross.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Grubbs cracks Kushnirov with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Grubbs is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kushnirov throws a series of punches but Grubbs moves out of range.
Grubbs has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kushnirov.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ilya Kushnirov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kushnirov looks to land a left hand but Grubbs moved out of range nicely.
Grubbs swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Grubbs catches Kushnirov with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Grubbs bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Jab by Grubbs.
Grubbs throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kushnirov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kushnirov looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Grubbs rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kushnirov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kushnirov misses with a head kick.
Grubbs on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Grubbs misses with a wild body shot.
Grubbs lands the left hand.
Grubbs takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Grubbs scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Grubbs misses with an uppercut.
Grubbs throws a hook but Kushnirov blocks it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Grubbs swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kushnirov looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kushnirov with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grubbs moves out of range as Kushnirov strikes.
Kushnirov slips a straight right by Grubbs.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Kushnirov!
Grubbs uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kushnirov.
Kushnirov has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Kushnirov throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Grubbs throws a big shot that misses.
Kushnirov shapes to counter with a head kick.
Kushnirov tests Grubbs's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Grubbs scores with a body shot.
Kushnirov wants to slow Grubbs down by chopping away at his legs.
Grubbs takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kushnirov moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Kushnirov slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
The fighters circling - Grubbs throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kushnirov jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kushnirov throws a leg kick but Grubbs sees it coming and moves out of range.
Grubbs throws a jab when Kushnirov was well out of range.
Kushnirov lands a jab to the head.
Kushnirov throws a push kick but Grubbs slaps the foot to one side.
It looked like Grubbs wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Grubbs loads up on a big right hand but Kushnirov slips the punch.
The fighters circle momentarily. Grubbs darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Grubbs throws a big shot that misses.
Kushnirov slips a straight right by Grubbs.
Kushnirov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Grubbs uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kushnirov.
Grubbs misses with a series of wild punches.
Grubbs thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kushnirov misses with an uppercut
and Grubbs counters with a left to the body.
Kushnirov throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Grubbs stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kushnirov throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Kushnirov with a nice calf kick.
Ilya Kushnirov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Grubbs throws a big shot that misses.
Kushnirov pushes Grubbs away with a front kick.
Grubbs avoids a kick to the body.
Grubbs misses with a double jab.
Grubbs misses with a hook.
Edward Grubbs has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Grubbs misses with a lunging right hand
and Kushnirov makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Kushnirov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Grubbs.
Grubbs lands with a nice body punch.
Kushnirov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Grubbs.
Kushnirov misses with a double jab.
Grubbs misses with a hook
and Kushnirov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Some wild striking there from Grubbs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grubbs lands with an uppercut that bounces Kushnirov off the cage and back into range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kushnirov throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Grubbs counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Grubbs misses with a looping left.
Kushnirov stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Kushnirov scoring well with a low kick there.
Grubbs throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kushnirov ducks under a wild hook from Grubbs.
Nice defenses there by Grubbs.
Grubbs defending well as Kushnirov loads up on a big left hand.
A lazy left from Grubbs finds it's target.
Kushnirov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Grubbs circles away quickly and effectively.
As Kushnirov looks to move away, Grubbs throws a big counter combo but Kushnirov just gets out of the way.
Grubbs lands a slapping body shot.
Kushnirov scores with a jab to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Edward Grubbs.
Well Kushnirov 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ilya Kushnirov!
Ilya Kushnirov decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.