PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alistair Spong (ranked 3150 p4p, 0 weight class) and Qasim Barakat (ranked 2443 p4p, 0 weight class). Spong's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, 2Pac - I'm A Soldier (Echale Mojo Remix) . 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.

Spong
vs
Barakat

195 cm
37
237 lbs
35 - 19 - 1

195 cm
36
250 lbs
32 - 22 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

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 35 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Alistair Spong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 22 - 0, fighting out of New York, Qasim Barakat!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Alec Ball and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A low kick from Barakat is predictable there
and Spong makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Barakat really felt that one!
Spong ducks right into an uppercut from Barakat.
Spong scores with a crisp jab that stopped Barakat in his tracks.
Barakat delivers a nice body kick.
Spong cracks Barakat with an open hand slap.
Barakat swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Barakat throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Spong is looking to clinch.
Spong lands with a good body shot.
Barakat misses with a hook.
Barakat throws a right hand that misses
and Spong counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Barakat wants to slow Spong down by chopping away at his legs.
Spong throws a body shot but no joy.
Spong fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
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!
Spong misses with a kick to the body.
Spong's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Barakat connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Spong scrambles back to his feet.
Barakat takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Barakat throws a sloppy body shot
and Barakat takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Spong fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Barakat is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Spong.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spong cracks Barakat with a right hand to the side of the head.
Spong goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Spong moves into the clinch.
Barakat lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Barakat misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch on the inside from Barakat fails to land.
I was talking to Spong's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Barakat with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Spong lands with a light punch inside.
Still in the clinch, Spong scores with a nice short uppercut.
Spong putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Barakat in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Spong trying to stall but Barakat improves his position.
Spong tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Barakat's elbow.
Barakat misses with a knee to the head.
Spong scores with a nice hook to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Spong working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Spong lands a shot to the body.
Barakat looks winded!
Spong lands a right hand that snaps the head of Barakat backwards.
Barakat tries to work over Spong's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Spong holding his opponent close, against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Spong.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spong trying to stall but Barakat improves his position.
Barakat tries to land a knee to the head but Spong blocks with his arms.
Nice body punch from Spong - that landed with a thud.
Spong is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Spong misses with a hook to the ribs.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Spong.
Barakat trying to land knees to the body.
Spong can't find room to land a body shot as Barakat controls the action.
Spong landing knees to the head.
Spong lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Spong misses with a body punch.
Barakat can't find room to land a body shot as Spong controls the action.
Spong misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nice body punch from Spong - that landed with a thud.
A short uppercut from Spong.
Barakat using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Spong has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Spong lands a body punch in the clinch.
Spong blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spong blocking some punches.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Barakat obliges.
Still in the clinch, Spong scores with a nice short uppercut.
Spong pressing his opponent against the cage.
Barakat misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short right from Spong on the inside.
Barakat misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Spong's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Spong blocks a body shot from Barakat.
Good body shot from Spong.
Spong lands an uppercut.
Spong gets through Barakat's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Barakat with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Spong connects with a nasty looking knee right to Barakat's face.
Spong throws a knee to the head but misses.
Spong scores with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Spong working Barakat over with knees to the body.
A body shot lands from Spong.
Spong lands a body punch in the clinch.
Spong lands a left hand that snaps the head of Barakat backwards.
Spong lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Barakat takes a knee to the side of the body.
Spong throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Barakats head.
Barakat misses with a punch to the body.
Spong works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A nice left hand lands by Spong.
Spong digs a right hand underneath Barakat's ribcage. Barakat let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Spong working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Barakat is rocked!
Spong throws a big uppercut that drops Barakat! More strikes from Spong and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Barakat lies dazed against the cage as Spong celebrates with his cornermen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:47 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Alistair Spong!
Post fight, Alistair Spong took to the microphone: 'You even said you'd kill somebody didn't ya? I killed 2 people dog, so what that make me? It should tell you I go the extra mile just to do you homie. See when those lights go on, it's time for people like me to stand up, and we make people like you break. So do yourselves a favor man, and stay away'.