PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bobby Turner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Qasim Barakat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Turner
vs
Barakat

182 cm
22
255 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

195 cm
21
250 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition
Arcticus University: London

Spartan Nutrition
MMA Hype Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Bobby Turner!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Qasim Barakat!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Aleksandr Martynov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Turner shoots in for a takedown but Barakat shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Barakat uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Turner.
Barakat counters with a body kick.

Turner closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Barakat did well to prevent Turner getting side control.
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.
Barakat blocking the ground and pound attempt from Turner.
Barakat keeping control of the position.
Barakat has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Turner is working away from the top position though.
Turner thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Barakat's head.
Turner has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barakat trying to hold on to Turner's head to control him but Turner postures up.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Turner lands strikes from half guard.
Barakat wants to control but Turner is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Turner scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Barakat tries to roll over but Turner keeps him under control.
Barakat is staying active underneath Turner, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Barakat tries to roll over but Turner keeps him under control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Barakat can do anything to dispel that myth.
Barakat works his way to full guard. Good work.
Barakat trying to keep a closed guard but Turner is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Turner looking to pass the guard.
Turner throwing strikes but missing.
Barakat is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Turner postures up and lands a big shot to Barakat's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barakat not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Turner trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Turner postures up in Barakat's guard and throws a big left but Barakat blocks it.
Barakat trying to control the position.
Turner trying to control but Barakat is working from the bottom.
Turner content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Turner working some strikes from top position.
Turner distracts Barakat with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Barakat is pulling down on Turner's head. It's preventing any offense from Turner, at least for the moment.
Barakat has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Beauty School. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Turner not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Barakat is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Barakat pulls Turner in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turner working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Barakat is trying to control the position but Turner postures up.
Turner is fighting to break Barakat's control of his arms but Barakat is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Turner throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Turner bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Barakat's head backwards.
A big right from Barakat misses.
Turner chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Barakat can pounce on him.

Turner darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Barakat wants to control but Turner is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barakat blocking the ground and pound attempt from Turner.
Barakat trying to control here.
Barakat avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Turner.
Barakat is trying to maintain the position but Turner is very close to passing his half guard.
Turner prevents Barakat from improving his position.
Turner is keen to just control but Barakat is a slippery customer.
Barakat is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Barakat trying to control here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Barakat looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Barakat thumps Turner with a low kick.
Nice cross by Turner.
Barakat buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Barakat lands a body shot.
Barakat tries to land a front kick but Turner steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Turner is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Turner throws a hook to the side of Barakat's head but Barakat sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Good standup being displayed there by Barakat as he connects with a hook.
Turner blocks the body kick.
Turner tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barakat was well out of range. Poor timing from Turner.
Qasim Barakat seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Turner gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Turner misses with a body shot
and Barakat counters with a leg kick.
Turner shoots in but Barakat avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Barakat tries a quick counter leg kick but Turner is wise to it.
Turner takes a swing at Barakat's ribcage but misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barakat throws a leg kick but Turner checks it.
Barakat throws out a loose jab but Turner uses good head movement to avoid it.
Turner was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Barakat feints and then cracks Turner's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Turner down.
Turner avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Barakat looks for the body kick but Turner saw that one coming.
Barakat throws a push kick but Turner slaps the foot to one side.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Turner cracks Barakat with an open hand slap.
Barakat ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Turner moves away.
Turner looks to land a right hand but Barakat moved out of range.
Turner is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Turner slips under a jab.
Turner takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Decent striking displayed by Turner there.
Barakat throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Turner misses with a combination
and Barakat counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Barakat lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Barakat ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Turner misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Barakat counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A bone on bone clash there as Turner blocks the leg kick.
Turner misses with a lunging right hand
and Barakat counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Turner blocks a low kick nicely.
Decent striking displayed by Barakat there.
Barakat throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Turner takes one to the chin there.
Barakat misses with a low kick.

A jab-cross combination lands for Turner and sends Barakat crashing to the mat! Turner follows him down to the mat - Barakat regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!

Barakat is rocked!

It looks like Qasim Barakat has been cut.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Turner lands a big elbow from half guard. That looks like it's hurt Barakat quite badly. Barakat pulls Turner in close trying to recover. Turner postures up and lands two really hard shots that put Barakat on queer street! The ref takes a look and decides to call an end to the fight! Possibly an early stoppage but Barakat doesn't seem to be complaining too much.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 9:23 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Bobby Turner!
Bobby Turner retains his super heavyweight title!
After winning the bout, Bobby Turner thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.