PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zaid Al Balushi (ranked 1283 p4p, 1516 weight class) and Bryant Smith (ranked 171 p4p, 207 weight class). Smith has chosen Television - Marquee Moon as his entrance music. 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 Bryant Smith was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Al Balushi
vs
Smith

180 cm
29
155
8 - 3 - 0

178 cm
29
159
18 - 12 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Voodoo Nutrition

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

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 8 - 3 - 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 18 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bryant Smith!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Winston Howard and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith works Al Balushi's body with a nice hook.
Smith swinging wildly here.
Smith throws a body shot but no joy.
It appears Al Balushi was looking to counter with a kick there.
Smith looks to land a right hand but Al Balushi moved out of range.
We've been informed that Smith 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.
Al Balushi throws a wild body kick that Smith sees coming a mile off.
Smith appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Al Balushi takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Smith throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Smith misses with a looping left.
Smith moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Smith takes a swing at Al Balushi's ribcage but misses.
Smith misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Al Balushi throws a quick counter kick to the body but Smith avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith throws a right hand that misses
and Al Balushi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Al Balushi avoids the body shot from Smith.
Al Balushi feinted there with a counter leg kick.
No joy there for Smith, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Danga de danga de dang - Smith scores with a four punch combination!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A telegraphed right hand from Smith misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Al Balushi moves away.
Al Balushi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smith paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Smith misses with a hook
and Al Balushi counters with a good low kick that Smith was not able to check.
Smith with a nice cross.
Smith walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Al Balushi checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Al Balushi fires out a quick counter leg kick but Smith just manages to avoid it.
Al Balushi moves in looking to clinch but Smith pushes him off.
Smith takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Al Balushi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Smith throws a nice looking combination but Al Balushi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Smith takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Al Balushi throws the kick towards the body but Smith avoids it.
Smith throws a right hand that Al Balushi ducks under and follows up with a left that Al Balushi also avoids with ease.
Al Balushi tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Smith manages to circle out of the way.
Al Balushi throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Smith swings for the body but Al Balushi moves out of range.
Al Balushi tries to counter by clinching up but Smith breaks away and moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith with a jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Al Balushi defending well as Smith loads up on a big left hand.
Al Balushi fires out a quick counter leg kick but Smith just manages to avoid it.
Smith throws a body punch but Al Balushi moves out of range.
Smith misses with an uppercut.
Smith misses with an uppercut.
Al Balushi seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Al Balushi checks a low kick from Smith.
Smith looks to land a right hand but Al Balushi moved out of range.
Al Balushi blocks a low kick nicely.
It looked like Al Balushi wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Smith takes a swing at Al Balushi's ribcage but misses.
Al Balushi appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Al Balushi misses with a double jab.
Smith throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Smith fails to land with a series of punches.
A shot to the body from Smith misses
and Al Balushi makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Smith really felt that one!
Smith gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Al Balushi.
Al Balushi looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Al Balushi throws a push kick but Smith slaps the foot to one side.
Bryant Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Balushi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick misses from Smith.
Al Balushi appears to be looking for a big counter.
A low kick from Smith is predictable there
and Al Balushi counters with a low kick, right behind Smith 's knee.
A thudding body kick lands there by Al Balushi!
Good leg kick by Smith.
Smith takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Smith throws a shot from downtown. Al Balushi moves away and avoids it.
A slow jab from Smith misses its intended target.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice defenses there by Al Balushi.
Nice straight punches there by Smith. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Smith.
Smith misses the shot to the body.
Smith rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Al Balushi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Smith swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a looping overhand right but Al Balushi ducks down to avoid it.
Smith avoids a punch combination nicely.
Smith is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Al Balushi with a body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith lands a nice hook to Al Balushi's body. Al Balushi takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Smith throws a leg kick
and Al Balushi counters with a slapping leg kick.
Smith throws a left and a right that both miss
and Al Balushi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Smith throws a leg kick but Al Balushi sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Al Balushi throwing a counter right hand but Smith manages to avoid it.
Al Balushi blocks a head kick by Smith.
Smith lands with a nice body punch.
Al Balushi is looking to slow Smith down with leg kicks.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Al Balushi tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.
Al Balushi connects with a single shot there.
Smith keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bryant Smith dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Al Balushi was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.
Bryant Smith seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A low kick from Smith misses
and Al Balushi counters with a slapping leg kick.
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt.
Smith throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A nice inside leg kick there by Smith. That's going to slow Al Balushi down.
Smith with a hook.
Smith throws a head kick that misses
and Al Balushi counters with an outside leg kick.
Smith looks to land a combination but Al Balushi avoids it well.
Smith throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Al Balushi counters with a thumping low kick.
Smith looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith throws a looping overhand right but Al Balushi ducks down to avoid it.
Al Balushi looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
A nice leg kick lands there from Smith.
Smith throws a shot from downtown. Al Balushi moves away and avoids it.
Al Balushi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Smith.
Smith has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Smith thumps Al Balushi with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Balushi chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Smith throws a lazy right hand but Al Balushi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
As Smith backs away, Al Balushi returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Smith fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Al Balushi manages to avoid it.
Al Balushi slips under a jab.
Al Balushi throws a push kick but Smith slaps the foot to one side.
Smith's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A low kick lands for Al Balushi.
Smith throws a leg kick which misses Al Balushi's front leg but catches the back leg as Al Balushi tries to avoid it.
Al Balushi slips a straight right by Smith.
Smith tries a low kick but Al Balushi avoids it.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Al Balushi might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Smith lands with a kick to the temple. Al Balushi shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

It looks like Zaid Al Balushi has been cut.
Smith scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Al Balushi checks a leg kick.
Smith misses with the body kick
letting Al Balushi counter with a right hand.
Al Balushi checks a leg kick.
Al Balushi half committed to a counter leg kick.
Smith throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
It looked like Al Balushi wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Al Balushi avoids the head kick by Smith.
Smith throws a body shot but no joy.
Al Balushi fires out a quick counter leg kick but Smith just manages to avoid it.
Al Balushi throws a shot to the body.
Smith missing with a left hand there. Al Balushi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Al Balushi lands a high kick!
Al Balushi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Smith.
Smith swings widly with a right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Smith throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Al Balushi seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Smith throws a left and a right that both miss
and Al Balushi counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Smith thinking.
Smith fails to land with a series of punches.
Smith takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Al Balushi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smith paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Al Balushi pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab by Al Balushi.
Smith misses with a right hand
enabling Al Balushi to counter with a crisp jab.
Smith misses with a wild combination.
Al Balushi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Smith swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Al Balushi counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Smith is trying to break the clinch but Al Balushi has him pressed against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Al Balushi lands a damaging elbow.
Smith lands a right hand that snaps the head of Al Balushi backwards.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Smith takes a swing at Al Balushi's ribcage but misses.
Al Balushi is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Smith.
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Al Balushi.
Al Balushi fires out a quick counter leg kick but Smith just manages to avoid it.
Nice jab there from Al Balushi.
Smith buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Al Balushi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Smith.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Al Balushi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Al Balushi is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Smith.
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!
A low kick from Smith is predictable there

and Al Balushi moves into the clinch.
Smith working hard to break the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Al Balushi.
Smith can't break the clinch.
Al Balushi lands a damaging elbow.
Al Balushi misses with an elbow over the top.
Al Balushi creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Smith's defenses.
Al Balushi creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Smith's defenses.
Al Balushi utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Smith wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Al Balushi has him pressed against the cage.
Al Balushi lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Al Balushi misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Smith.
Smith is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Smith working hard to break the clinch.
Smith is trying to break the clinch but Al Balushi has him pressed against the cage.
Al Balushi keeps control of Smith as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Al Balushi has Smith pressed against the cage, preventing Smith from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Zaid Al Balushi will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Zaid Al Balushi's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Smith chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Al Balushi can pounce on him.
Smith turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A good leg kick by Smith.
Smith misses with a hook
and Al Balushi counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Al Balushi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smith misses with a series of wild punches.
Smith swings widly with a right hand
and Smith takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Al Balushi moves out of range of the body kick.
Smith scores with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith connects with a body shot.
Smith lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Al Balushi circles away quickly and effectively.
Smith lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Al Balushi circles away quickly and effectively.
Smith fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Al Balushi manages to avoid it.
Smith throws a low kick but Al Balushi moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Al Balushi counters with a slapping leg kick.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smith on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Al Balushi. Al Balushi obviously looking to wear him down.
Smith will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Al Balushi is looking to counter the offense by Smith and move into the clinch.
Smith changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Smith blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Al Balushi has Smith pressed against the cage, preventing Smith from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Al Balushi lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Al Balushi lands a body shot in the clinch.
Al Balushi lands a knee to the body.
Al Balushi is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Al Balushi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to break free but Al Balushi has control.
Smith takes a knee right on the jaw!
Knees in the clinch landing for Al Balushi.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Al Balushi unloads a knee to the mid-section. Smith lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Al Balushi comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Al Balushi utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Al Balushi lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Smith is rocked!
Al Balushi lands an elbow inside.
Smith is still on wobbly legs! Can Al Balushi finish him?
A short left from Al Balushi.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Al Balushi.
Al Balushi pulls back and lands a big elbow that stuns Smith! Al Balushi unloads with more strikes and Smith sinks to his knees! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Zaid Al Balushi!
Zaid Al Balushi decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.