PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zaid Al Balushi (ranked 936 p4p, 1824 weight class) and Tim Sanchez (ranked 113 p4p, 206 weight class). Sanchez has chosen I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Al Balushi
vs
Sanchez

180 cm
26
155
5 - 1 - 0

179 cm
25
157
7 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Voodoo Nutrition

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zaid Al Balushi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tim Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Al Balushi misses with a body kick.
As Al Balushi backs off Sanchez throws a huge counter combo but Al Balushi manages to avoid it all.
A nice leg kick from Al Balushi, right into the meat of the thigh.
Al Balushi misses with a low kick.
Al Balushi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Despite the aggression on Sanchez's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Sanchez keeps the fight on the outside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanchez ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Despite the aggression on Sanchez's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Sanchez walks into a stiff left hand from Al Balushi.
Al Balushi throws a left and a right that both miss
and Sanchez counters with a left and a right that stings Al Balushi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Al Balushi loads up on a big right hand but Sanchez slips the punch.
Sanchez is looking for the big counter here.
Al Balushi throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Sanchez counters with a one-two to the body.
Al Balushi feints and then cracks Sanchez's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Sanchez down.
Al Balushi tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Sanchez counters with a series of strikes. Al Balushi will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Balushi thumps Sanchez with a low kick.
Al Balushi dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Sanchez. That did some damage!
Sanchez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sanchez throws a counter combo.
Al Balushi is looking to clinch but Sanchez is avoiding it.
Al Balushi throws a leg kick that is checked
and Sanchez counters with a series of strikes. Al Balushi will be more careful next time no doubt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Al Balushi throws a hook but Sanchez blocks it.
A nice inside leg kick there by Al Balushi. That's going to slow Sanchez down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Al Balushi.
Sanchez lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Al Balushi scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Al Balushi throws an off balance right hand
and Sanchez counters with a left and a right that stings Al Balushi.
Al Balushi throws a push kick but Sanchez slaps the foot to one side.
Sanchez is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Al Balushi tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Sanchez counters with a two punch combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Balushi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sanchez slips under a jab.
Despite the aggression on Sanchez's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Al Balushi throws a body punch but Sanchez moves out of range.
Despite the aggression on Sanchez's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Al Balushi misses with a hook.
Sanchez throws a counter combo.
Al Balushi looks for the body kick but Sanchez saw that one coming.
Al Balushi misses with a low kick as Sanchez jumps back.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tim Sanchez will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Al Balushi throws a push kick but Sanchez slaps the foot to one side.
Al Balushi throws a front kick aimed at Sanchez's knee but Sanchez avoids it well.
Sanchez lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Al Balushi throws a front kick that sends Sanchez stumbling back into the cage.
Zaid Al Balushi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A decent looking cross lands there for Al Balushi.
Zaid Al Balushi is winning the standup battle so far.
Al Balushi throws the kick towards the body but Sanchez avoids it.
Tim Sanchez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Al Balushi clinches up against the cage.
Al Balushi throws a punch but it's blocked by Sanchez.
Al Balushi misses with the head strike.
Our sources have told us that Al Balushi has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Balushi with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Al Balushi lands a knee to the head.
Sanchez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Al Balushi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sanchez's elbow.
Sanchez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Al Balushi is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sanchez is defending well for now.

Sanchez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Donk. Al Balushi catches Sanchez right on the button with a cross.
Al Balushi lands with a straight right. Sanchez didn't see that one coming.
Al Balushi tries to clinch but Sanchez moves away
and Sanchez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Al Balushi looks to score with a jab to the body but Sanchez is just out of range.
Sanchez is looking for the big counter here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Al Balushi is predictable there
and Sanchez counters with a two punch combo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sanchez ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Al Balushi misses with a hook
and Sanchez counters with a series of strikes. Al Balushi will be more careful next time no doubt.
Al Balushi connects with a solid leg kick.
Al Balushi throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Sanchez counters with a two punch combo.
A lazy body kick from Al Balushi
and Sanchez counters with a three punch combo that has Al Balushi backing up. Al Balushi nods at Sanchez to acknowledge the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Balushi throws a leg kick
and Sanchez counters with a series of strikes. Al Balushi will be more careful next time no doubt.
A lazy left from Al Balushi finds it's target.
Sanchez is working the combinations to good effect here.
Al Balushi throws a lazy body kick
and Sanchez counters with a three punch combo that has Al Balushi backing up. Al Balushi nods at Sanchez to acknowledge the strikes.
Sanchez takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Al Balushi works the jab nicely.
A punch lands to the side of Sanchez 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Sanchez circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Balushi tries to clinch up
and Sanchez counters with a series of strikes. Al Balushi will be more careful next time no doubt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Al Balushi lands a nice hook to Sanchez's body. Sanchez takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Al Balushi throws a leg kick
and Sanchez counters with a series of strikes. Al Balushi will be more careful next time no doubt.
Al Balushi tries to score with a low kick but Sanchez moves his leg out of the way.
Al Balushi throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Sanchez throws a counter combo.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tim Sanchez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Al Balushi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Al Balushi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sanchez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Al Balushi throws a leg kick
and Sanchez counters with a series of strikes. Al Balushi will be more careful next time no doubt.
Sanchez moves out of range as Al Balushi strikes.
As Al Balushi backs off Sanchez throws a huge counter combo but Al Balushi manages to avoid it all.
Al Balushi connects with an inside leg kick.
Sanchez takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Balushi wants to clinch but Sanchez slips to the side
and Sanchez counters with a series of strikes. Al Balushi will be more careful next time no doubt.
Sanchez slips a straight right by Al Balushi.
Sanchez is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Balushi thows a leg kick but Sanchez checks it
and Sanchez counters with a series of strikes. Al Balushi will be more careful next time no doubt.
Al Balushi throws a jab but it's blocked by Sanchez.
Al Balushi throws a leg kick that is checked
and Sanchez counters with a left and a right that stings Al Balushi.
Sanchez moves out of range of the strikes.
Al Balushi looks to throw a body kick
and Sanchez counters with a series of strikes. Al Balushi will be more careful next time no doubt.
Al Balushi throws a leg kick that is checked
and Sanchez counters with a one-two to the body.
Al Balushi scoring well with a low kick there.
Zaid Al Balushi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sanchez on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Al Balushi. Al Balushi obviously looking to wear him down.
Sanchez's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Al Balushi is looking to score with low kicks.
Al Balushi throws a hook to the side of Sanchez's head but Sanchez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A low kick from Al Balushi misses
and Sanchez counters with a series of strikes. Al Balushi will be more careful next time no doubt.
Al Balushi throws a right hand that misses
and Sanchez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Al Balushi looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Sanchez swats away the attempt to clinch by Al Balushi.
As Al Balushi backs off Sanchez throws a huge counter combo but Al Balushi manages to avoid it all.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Balushi misses with a shot to the body
and Sanchez counters with a one-two to the body.
Al Balushi lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Al Balushi throws a leg kick
and Sanchez counters with a left and a right that stings Al Balushi.
Sanchez circles away from the clinch attempt
and Sanchez counters with a two punch combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez moves forwards but Al Balushi connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Sanchez is rocked!
Al Balushi loads up on a big right hand but Sanchez slips the punch.
Despite the aggression on Sanchez's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Sanchez is still on wobbly legs! Can Al Balushi finish him?
Al Balushi tries to clinch
and Sanchez counters with a one-two 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!
Al Balushi pivots, looking for a leg kick but Sanchez is out of range and Al Balushi settles back down.
Sanchez lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Sanchez seems to have recovered his senses.
Al Balushi throws a leg kick
and Sanchez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Al Balushi tries to clinch up.
Sanchez lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Al Balushi rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Sanchez counters with a series of strikes. Al Balushi will be more careful next time no doubt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tim Sanchez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sanchez winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

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