PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Alex Cowboy (ranked 24595 p4p, 255 weight class) and Bashaad Al Hammad (ranked 20463 p4p, 158 weight class). Al Hammad has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Bashaad Al Hammad was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Cowboy
vs
Al Hammad

150 cm
26
300 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

179 cm
33
160 lbs
11 - 18 - 0

Solid boxing
Good chin

Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alex Cowboy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bashaad Al Hammad!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Gwen Towbar and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Al Hammad swings for the body but Cowboy moves out of range.
Cowboy fails with an attempt to clinch.
A big right from Al Hammad misses.
A slow jab from Al Hammad misses its intended target.
Cowboy uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Al Hammad.
Cowboy steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Al Hammad.
Al Hammad misses with an uppercut
and Cowboy counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Cowboy gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Al Hammad creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Cowboy throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Al Hammad blocks it with crossed arms.
Al Hammad misses with a body punch.
Al Hammad swings wildly with an uppercut but Cowboy uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cowboy stalls.
Cowboy stalling against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cowboy breaks from the clinch.

Cowboy clinches with his opponent.
Cowboy prevents a body shot from Al Hammad.
Nice body punch from Cowboy.
Al Hammad looks winded!
Cowboy blocks the elbow strike.
Cowboy blocks an elbow strike.
Al Hammad tries to land knees in the clinch but Cowboy avoids the damage to the body.

Cowboy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Al Hammad swings for the body but Cowboy moves out of range.
Cowboy quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Al Hammad looks to throw the jab but Cowboy is out of range.
Al Hammad pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cowboy slips a straight right by Al Hammad.
Al Hammad will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Al Hammad tries to keep at a distance but Cowboy has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Hammad tries to land a knee to the head but Cowboy blocks with his arms.
Cowboy on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cowboy stalling against the ropes.
Cowboy on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cowboy managing to block the knees to the body from Al Hammad.

Cowboy breaks the clinch.
Cowboy tries to clinch but Al Hammad is having none of it.
Al Hammad tries a head kick but it misses.
A combination from Cowboy does no damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Al Hammad looks to land a right hand but Cowboy moved out of range.
Cowboy connects with a nice looking jab.

It looks like Bashaad Al Hammad has been cut.
Al Hammad throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Al Hammad swings for the body but Cowboy moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Hammad throws a leg kick but Cowboy moved away.
Al Hammad misses with a series of wild punches.

Al Hammad tries to keep at a distance but Cowboy has taken the fight into the clinch.

Cowboy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cowboy with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Al Hammad throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Cowboy counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Al Hammad tries a body shot but Cowboy blocks it.
Cowboy avoiding damage as Al Hammad throws knees to the body.
Cowboy can't break the clinch.
Al Hammad with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Al Hammad throws a head punch that misses.
Cowboy tries to land a knee to the head but Al Hammad blocks with his arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Hammad trying to land knees to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Cowboy.
Al Hammad with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Cowboy breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nice defenses there by Cowboy.
Cowboy is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Al Hammad.
Cowboy blocks the body kick.
A quick step to the side and Cowboy tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Al Hammad misses the jab.
Al Hammad just misses with a punch to the body.
Al Hammad throws a body shot but no joy.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Cowboy gets a clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Cowboy takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Al Hammad with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Cowboy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
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 Alex Cowboy will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Bashaad Al Hammad's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Al Hammad just misses with a punch to the body.
Al Hammad misses with a head kick.
Cowboy connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Cowboy throws the kick towards the body but Al Hammad avoids it.
Al Hammad swats away the attempt to clinch by Cowboy.
Cowboy blocks a jab.
Cowboy slips a jab and a cross from Al Hammad.
Bashaad Al Hammad seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cowboy slips under a jab from Al Hammad.
Al Hammad misses with a double jab
and Cowboy cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Al Hammad throws a hook to the side of Cowboy's head but Cowboy sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cowboy throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Al Hammad gets tackled into the ropes by Cowboy. Cowboy maintains the clinch.
Al Hammad pushes off an throws an elbow but Cowboy leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Al Hammad has a couple of punches blocked by Cowboy.
Cowboy is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Hammad tries to throw a body punch but Cowboy avoids it by throwing Al Hammad back against the ropes.
Al Hammad tries to land knees in the clinch but Cowboy avoids the damage to the body.
Cowboy blocks an elbow strike.
Cowboy managing to block the knees to the body from Al Hammad.
Cowboy stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Al Hammad tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Al Hammad tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cowboy avoids it.
Al Hammad misses with a hook from the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Cowboy.
Al Hammad is breathing heavily.
Cowboy leaning against his opponent.
Al Hammad with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Al Hammad tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cowboy avoids it.
Al Hammad with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cowboy breaks the clinch.
Al Hammad swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A looping hook to the body misses from Al Hammad. Cowboy does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cowboy avoids the body shot from Al Hammad.
Cowboy bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Al Hammad misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cowboy.
Al Hammad blocks the body kick.

Cowboy closes the distance and pushes Al Hammad back into the ropes.

Cowboy manages to break the clinch.
Al Hammad checks a leg kick nicely.
Cowboy scores with a jab to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cowboy fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cowboy tries to close the distance and clinch but Al Hammad swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Al Hammad wants to slow Cowboy down by chopping away at his legs.
Al Hammad avoids the head kick by Cowboy.
Cowboy moves away from the strike by Al Hammad.
Cowboy swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Hammad moves out of range as Cowboy throws a body kick.
A jab from Al Hammad misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Al Hammad. Cowboy does a little dance to reset his feet.
Al Hammad throws a body punch but Cowboy moves out of range.
Al Hammad throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cowboy sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cowboy slips under a jab from Al Hammad.
Cowboy tries to land a front kick but Al Hammad steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Al Hammad misses with a low kick.
Al Hammad misses with a low kick.
Cowboy tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Al Hammad manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A punch combination from Cowboy misses.
Al Hammad looks to land a combination but Cowboy avoids it well.
Cowboy fails in his attempt to clinch.
A big left from Al Hammad misses.
Cowboy keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Al Hammad misses the target.
Cowboy was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Hammad misses with a head kick.
Alex Cowboy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Al Hammad misses the shot to the body.
Cowboy went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
A big left from Al Hammad misses.
Al Hammad avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cowboy tries to clinch but Al Hammad is having none of it.

Al Hammad tries to keep at a distance but Cowboy has taken the fight into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cowboy.
Cowboy pushes off an throws an elbow but Al Hammad leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Al Hammad misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Cowboy is trying to break the clinch but Al Hammad has him pressed against the ropes.
Al Hammad swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Al Hammad tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bashaad Al Hammad showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Bashaad Al Hammad's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Cowboy moves in looking to clinch but Al Hammad pushes him off.
Al Hammad throws a body shot but no joy.
Cowboy slips under a jab from Al Hammad.
Cowboy keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Al Hammad throws a body shot but no joy.
Al Hammad throws a series of punches but Cowboy avoids them all with ease.
Al Hammad misses with a low kick as Cowboy jumps back.
Cowboy is looking to land body kicks.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Al Hammad! But no joy.
Cowboy tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Al Hammad throws a hook but Cowboy avoids it easily.
Cowboy keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Al Hammad.
Al Hammad tries a head kick but it misses.
Cowboy throws a big counter combination but Al Hammad scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cowboy has taken the fight to the clinch.
Al Hammad misses with a hook to the ribs.
Cowboy dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the ropes.
Cowboy throws an elbow but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cowboy manages to break the clinch.
Al Hammad tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cowboy was well out of range. Poor timing from Al Hammad.
Al Hammad misses with a hook. Cowboy ducked under it nicely.
Cowboy seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Al Hammad swings widly with a right hand

and Cowboy moves into the clinch.
Al Hammad pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Alex Cowboy has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Cowboy is trying to push Al Hammad away but Al Hammad has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Cowboy tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Al Hammad tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cowboy's elbow.
Al Hammad throws a head punch that misses.
Cowboy blocks an elbow strike.
Al Hammad struggles to land a body shot inside as Cowboy controls his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Hammad pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Cowboy blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Al Hammad doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cowboy missing with knees to the body.

Cowboy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cowboy throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Al Hammad throws a left and a right that both miss
and Cowboy counters with a left and a right that stings Al Hammad.
Al Hammad takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Cowboy clinches.
Cowboy is trying to maintain a safe position but Al Hammad gets an underhook and turns Cowboy into the ropes.
Al Hammad misses with an elbow over the top.
Al Hammad tries a body shot but Cowboy blocks it.
Al Hammad tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cowboy slowing the pace effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cowboy manages to break the clinch.
A punch combination from Al Hammad misses.
Al Hammad misses the jab.
Al Hammad misses with a looping left.
Al Hammad on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Cowboy connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Al Hammad misses with a body shot.

Cowboy closes the distance and clinches.
Al Hammad can't find room to land a body shot as Cowboy controls the action.

Cowboy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A head kick misses from Cowboy.
Cowboy checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
As Al Hammad looks to move away, Cowboy throws a big counter combo but Al Hammad just gets out of the way.
Al Hammad misses with a two punch combination.
Cowboy blocks a jab.
Al Hammad missing with a left hand there. Cowboy was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A counter left hand to the body from Cowboy misses its target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cowboy throws a sloppy head kick and Al Hammad moves out of range easily.
Cowboy tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Al Hammad takes a swing at Cowboy's ribcage but misses.
Al Hammad swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cowboy is looking to clinch.
Al Hammad wants to slow Cowboy down by chopping away at his legs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A jab from Al Hammad misses.
Al Hammad misses with a looping right.
Cowboy throws a head kick but Al Hammad moves out of range.
Cowboy will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Al Hammad throws a hook but Cowboy avoids it easily.

Al Hammad tries to keep at a distance but Cowboy has taken the fight into the clinch.
Al Hammad tries to work over Cowboy's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cowboy on the defensive, avoiding the knees 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 Alex Cowboy.
I think Cowboy has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Alex Cowboy!