PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chilemba Murithi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Ushenin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ushenin has chosen The Godfather as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Murithi
vs
Ushenin

225 cm
29
285 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

173 cm
31
265 lbs
12 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160

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 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Chilemba Murithi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 13 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alex Ushenin!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ushenin checks a low kick from Murithi.
Murithi scores with a kick to the body.
Murithi misses with a low kick.
Ushenin is looking to clinch but Murithi is avoiding it.
We've been informed that Ushenin 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.
Murithi looks to land a left hand but Ushenin moved out of range nicely.
Ushenin looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Murithi is fending him off so far but Ushenin persists. Nope, Murithi circles away and we're back to standing.
Ushenin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Murithi defends it nicely.
Murithi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Ushenin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murithi is trying to control Ushenin's posture but Ushenin avoids it.
Ushenin in the domination position with Murithi hanging on.
Ushenin wants to control but Murithi is keeping him busy.
Murithi tries to buck Ushenin off but Ushenin is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ushenin working away.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ushenin looks for a takedown but Murithi sprawls well.
Chilemba Murithi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Ushenin.
Murithi fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Ushenin has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Ushenin moves out of range of the leg kick from Murithi.
Ushenin tries for a takedown but Murithi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ushenin with a lazy takedown attempt
and Murithi makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ushenin wants to clinch up but Murithi keeps it at a distance.
Murithi throws a right hand that misses
and Ushenin counters with an outside leg kick.

Ushenin bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Ushenin lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Murithi down.
Ushenin trying to control the position but Murithi is working away.

Ushenin decides to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murithi is looking to land body kicks.
Murithi throws a low kick but Ushenin avoids it.
Murithi pivots, looking for a leg kick but Ushenin is out of range and Murithi settles back down.
Murithi throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
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!
Ushenin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Murithi scores with a head kick.

It looks like Alex Ushenin has been cut.
Ushenin dives in for a single leg takedown but Murithi sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Ushenin turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Murithi wants to control but Ushenin postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Chilemba Murithi will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Alex Ushenin's cut.
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.

Murithi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Murithi wants it to stay on the feet.
Both fighters circling a little - Murithi finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Ushenin fails with a takedown attempt.

Ushenin feints and as Murithi raises his hands in defense, Ushenin changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Murithi bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ushenin's guard.
Ushenin keeping moving, preventing Murithi from controlling successfully.
Murithi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murithi is standing up over Ushenin. Ushenin looks to escape but Murithi dives into side control.
Murithi trying to control the action but Ushenin is working from the bottom.
Murithi prevents Ushenin from escaping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Murithi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ushenin keeps working.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Alex Ushenin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ushenin tries to escape but Murithi is in control.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Murithi fails to land a wild elbow strike.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Chilemba Murithi just wasn't active enough.
Ushenin fails with the takedown.
Chilemba Murithi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Ushenin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ushenin checks the leg kick.
Murithi really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Murithi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A lazy body kick from Murithi
and Ushenin counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Murithi thinking.
Murithi scores with a head kick.
Murithi misses with a head kick.
Murithi fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Ushenin is out of range.
Murithi pushes Ushenin away with a front kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Murithi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murithi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Ushenin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Murithi as he jumps to the side.
A head kick misses from Murithi.
Ushenin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Murithi pinned against the cage. Murithi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Murithi misses with a body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chilemba Murithi dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Alex Ushenin's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Murithi tries to land a front kick but Ushenin steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Chilemba Murithi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ushenin shoots in but no luck this time.
Murithi turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Murithi misses with a body kick.
Murithi misses with a kick to the body.
Murithi tries a low kick but Ushenin avoids it.

Ushenin takes the fight into the clinch.

Ushenin works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Ushenin decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murithi throws a jab when Ushenin was well out of range.
Murithi misses with a leg kick.
Murithi fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Ushenin throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Murithi's waist but Murithi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ushenin off to one side.
Ushenin takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Murithi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Chilemba Murithi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ushenin steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Murithi. That one must have hurt.
Chilemba Murithi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ushenin.
Chilemba Murithi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Ushenin.
Murithi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Murithi pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ushenin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Murithi defends it nicely.

Ushenin shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Murithi manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Murithi will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murithi is pulling down on Ushenin's head to control his posture.
Ushenin stopping the sweep attempt from Murithi.
Murithi is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murithi perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Ushenin is looking for a sweep. Murithi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Chilemba Murithi just wasn't active enough.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Murithi.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Murithi thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Ushenin if he has to take too many more of those.
Alex Ushenin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ushenin is trying hard to land a takedown here. Murithi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chilemba Murithi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Murithi, 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chilemba Murithi!