PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ultima Koivisto (ranked 40 p4p, 62 weight class) and Zaid Al Balushi (ranked 4 p4p, 9 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.

Koivisto
vs
Al Balushi

173 cm
33
158
28 - 11 - 0

180 cm
32
155
16 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)
FF Gear

Urban Fighter
Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ultima Koivisto!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zaid Al Balushi!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Daniel Bishop and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Al Balushi lands a nice looking body kick.
Koivisto misses with a straight left.
Al Balushi misses with a low kick.
Koivisto misses with an uppercut
and Al Balushi counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Al Balushi gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Koivisto.
A punch combination from Koivisto misses.
Koivisto shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Al Balushi as he jumps to the side.
Koivisto throws a head kick but Al Balushi moves out of range.
Al Balushi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A jab lands there for Koivisto.
Al Balushi throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Koivisto's head.
Koivisto swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ultima Koivisto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Good leg kick by Al Balushi.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Koivisto misses with a shot to the body
and Al Balushi counters with a stiff right hand.
Al Balushi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Al Balushi ducks under a wild hook from Koivisto.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Al Balushi - that will leave a mark!
Koivisto with a nice calf kick.
Koivisto misses with a jab to the body
enabling Al Balushi to counter with a crisp jab.
Koivisto uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Al Balushi.
Al Balushi bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Al Balushi scores with a crisp jab that stopped Koivisto in his tracks.
Koivisto misses with a kick to the body.
Al Balushi slips a jab from Koivisto.
Al Balushi lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Koivisto throws an overhand right that lands on Al Balushi's shoulder, as Al Balushi tries to avoid the shot.
Al Balushi slips under a jab from Koivisto.
Al Balushi let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
A low kick lands for Koivisto.
Koivisto misses with a looping right.
Al Balushi steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Al Balushi's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Koivisto connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Al Balushi scrambles back to his feet.
Al Balushi ducks right into an uppercut from Koivisto.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Al Balushi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Koivisto.
Al Balushi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Koivisto.
Koivisto ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Koivisto has been working on his boxing with his coaches at FF Forever in the buildup to the fight.
Koivisto misses with a lunging right hand
and Al Balushi counters with a leg kick.
Al Balushi moves away from the strike by Koivisto.
Al Balushi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Koivisto.
Al Balushi throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Koivisto throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Koivisto throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Al Balushi counters with an inside leg kick.
Koivisto throws a head kick that misses.
Koivisto on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Koivisto misses with a straight left.
Al Balushi checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Koivisto stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Al Balushi.
Koivisto scoring well with a low kick there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koivisto waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Al Balushi.
Al Balushi has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Al Balushi there as he acknowledges the shot.
Koivisto tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Nice cross by Koivisto.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Al Balushi - that will leave a mark!
Koivisto throws a big shot that misses.
Koivisto throws a right hand that misses
and Al Balushi counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Koivisto scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Koivisto misses with a body shot
and Al Balushi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Koivisto tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Al Balushi was well out of range. Poor timing from Koivisto.
A combination from Koivisto does no damage.
Koivisto backing away here, and Al Balushi unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Koivisto throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Koivisto misses with a body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Koivisto throws out a leg kick but Al Balushi moves out of range and Koivisto only half commits.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Koivisto misses.
Koivisto backing away here, and Al Balushi unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Koivisto moves away from the strike by Al Balushi.
Al Balushi scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Koivisto doesn't seem bothered though.
Koivisto jabs Al Balushi right on the nose. Al Balushi blinks but takes it well.
Al Balushi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Koivisto.
Koivisto misses with a straight left.
Al Balushi throws a counter combo.
Koivisto fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Al Balushi.
Al Balushi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Al Balushi flicks out a counter leg kick but Koivisto steps away.
Koivisto will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Koivisto ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Al Balushi moves away.
A right-left combo lands from Koivisto.
Koivisto throws the left hand but Al Balushi avoids the punch easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Koivisto throws a hook but Al Balushi avoids it easily.
Al Balushi was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Al Balushi tries to score with a low kick but Koivisto moves his leg out of the way.
Some wild striking there from Koivisto.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ultima Koivisto dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Al Balushi. Koivisto shrugs it off though.
A nice inside leg kick there by Al Balushi. That's going to slow Koivisto down.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Koivisto.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Al Balushi! But no joy.
Koivisto misses with an uppercut. Al Balushi saw that one coming.
Koivisto throws a lazy uppercut
and Al Balushi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Al Balushi throws a chopping leg kick but Koivisto manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Koivisto throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Koivisto throws a lazy uppercut
and Al Balushi makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Koivisto really felt that one!
Ultima Koivisto is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koivisto misses with a looping left.
A nice leg kick lands there from Al Balushi.
Al Balushi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Koivisto.
Al Balushi moves out of range as Koivisto strikes.
Koivisto rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Al Balushi makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koivisto doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Koivisto checks the leg kick.
An inside leg kick from Al Balushi misses.
Koivisto jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Koivisto backing away here, and Al Balushi unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Koivisto on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Al Balushi lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Al Balushi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A swing and a miss from Al Balushi.
Koivisto misses with a left hand
letting Al Balushi counter with a right hand.
Koivisto fails with the takedown
and Al Balushi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Al Balushi misses the shot to the body.
Koivisto misses with an uppercut
and Al Balushi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A leg kick checked by Al Balushi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koivisto misses with a looping left.
Al Balushi throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Koivisto sizes up Al Balushi with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Koivisto is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Al Balushi.
A little jabbing left from Al Balushi on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Koivisto lands with an overhand left.
Al Balushi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Zaid Al Balushi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Koivisto loads up on a big right hand but Al Balushi slips the punch.
Koivisto backing away here, and Al Balushi unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Koivisto uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Al Balushi.
Koivisto throws a leg kick but Al Balushi moved away.
Koivisto throws a combination that misses
and Al Balushi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A nice inside leg kick there by Al Balushi. That's going to slow Koivisto down.
Koivisto closes the distance and clinches up with Al Balushi, looking for a takedown. Koivisto pushes Al Balushi against the cage but Al Balushi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ultima Koivisto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Al Balushi scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Al Balushi has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Al Balushi there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Balushi checks a leg kick.
Al Balushi swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Koivisto throws an overhand right that lands on Al Balushi's shoulder, as Al Balushi tries to avoid the shot.
Al Balushi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Al Balushi has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Al Balushi cracks Koivisto with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Koivisto misses with a double jab.
A countering left hand to the body from Al Balushi misses.
Al Balushi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nice cross by Koivisto.
Koivisto scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Koivisto uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Koivisto throws a lazy uppercut
and Al Balushi counters with an inside leg kick.
Koivisto misses with a straight right.
Al Balushi feints a counter leg kick.
Al Balushi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Koivisto misses with an uppercut
and Al Balushi counters with a straight right hand.
Koivisto takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Koivisto throws a lazy head kick
and Al Balushi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Al Balushi throws a half hearted mid kick.
Koivisto feinted with a counter takedown.
Al Balushi blocks a jab.
Koivisto looks to land a left hand but Al Balushi moved out of range nicely.
Koivisto shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Al Balushi as he avoids it easily.
A combination from Koivisto does no damage.
Al Balushi throws out a counter right but Koivisto avoids it with no problem.
Al Balushi feints and then cracks Koivisto's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Koivisto down.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Al Balushi crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Koivisto - the referee stops the clock and Al Balushi gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Koivisto. Al Balushi manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Al Balushi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Al Balushi turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Al Balushi throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Koivisto attempts a counter takedown but Al Balushi avoids it well and moves away.
Koivisto is looking to land body kicks.
Koivisto throws an off balance right hand
and Al Balushi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Koivisto misses with a looping left.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zaid Al Balushi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Al Balushi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nice defenses there by Al Balushi.
Al Balushi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Koivisto.
Koivisto backing away here, and Al Balushi unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Al Balushi lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Al Balushi thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Koivisto if he has to take too many more of those.
Koivisto misses with a left hand
and Al Balushi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Al Balushi does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Koivisto throws a leg kick
and Al Balushi counters with a thumping low kick.
Al Balushi connects with a leg kick.
Koivisto missing with a left hand there. Al Balushi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koivisto throws a leg kick but Al Balushi moved away.
Al Balushi swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Al Balushi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Al Balushi connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Koivisto's hands.
Al Balushi throws a hook to the side of Koivisto's head but Koivisto sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Balushi throws a chopping leg kick but Koivisto manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Al Balushi slips under a jab.
Al Balushi lands a head shot.
Koivisto shoots in for a takedown but Al Balushi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
The fighters circling - Al Balushi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Al Balushi avoids the body shot from Koivisto.
Koivisto is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Al Balushi moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Koivisto throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Al Balushi looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Al Balushi thumps Koivisto with a low kick.
Koivisto takes a jab right on the kisser.
Koivisto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Al Balushi.
Al Balushi scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Koivisto doesn't seem bothered though.
Koivisto falls off balance throwing a combination
and Al Balushi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koivisto tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Al Balushi swivels and escapes.
Koivisto throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Koivisto.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ultima Koivisto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Koivisto tries to move into range but Al Balushi moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Al Balushi defending well as Koivisto loads up on a big left hand.
Al Balushi checks a leg kick.
Koivisto lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Al Balushi throws a nice outside leg kick.
Koivisto misses with an uppercut.
Al Balushi stuffs the takedown attempt from Koivisto. Koivisto gets slowly back to his feet.
Al Balushi moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Balushi fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Al Balushi swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Koivisto.

Koivisto looking to score a takedown here. Al Balushi is defending well but Koivisto drives through and ends up in Al Balushi's guard.
Al Balushi pulls Koivisto in close to prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Koivisto with a flurry of punches that miss.
Al Balushi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Koivisto postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Koivisto is fighting to break Al Balushi's control of his arms but Al Balushi is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Koivisto in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Koivisto postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Al Balushi trying to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koivisto loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Al Balushi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Koivisto.
Koivisto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Al Balushi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Koivisto throws a strike but Al Balushi rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Koivisto wants to sweep but no luck.
Koivisto trying to control the position.

Koivisto working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Al Balushi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Al Balushi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zaid Al Balushi really dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

A big left from Koivisto misses.
Al Balushi slips under a jab.
Koivisto throws a low kick, looking for Al Balushi's leg but Al Balushi calmly moves out of range.
Al Balushi throws out a counter right but Koivisto avoids it with no problem.
Al Balushi lands a really nice looking cross but Koivisto seems unphased.
Al Balushi throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Al Balushi misses with a straight right.
Koivisto appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Koivisto scores with the left hand. Al Balushi knows he should have avoided that one.
Koivisto misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koivisto shoots in for a double leg but Al Balushi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Some wild striking there from Koivisto.
Al Balushi tries a quick counter leg kick but Koivisto is wise to it.
Al Balushi lands with an overhand left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koivisto throws a big shot that misses.
No joy there for Koivisto, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nice straight punches there by Al Balushi. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Al Balushi.
Nice jab there from Al Balushi.
Koivisto doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Koivisto throws a sloppy head kick and Al Balushi moves out of range easily.
Al Balushi swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Al Balushi comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Al Balushi slips a straight right by Koivisto.
Koivisto throws a hook but Al Balushi avoids it easily.
Koivisto throws a sloppy body shot
and Al Balushi counters with a one-two to the body.
Al Balushi slips under a jab.
Al Balushi now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Al Balushi slips a straight right by Koivisto.
Koivisto shoots for a takedown but Al Balushi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ultima Koivisto. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Balushi staying out of range there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Koivisto tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Koivisto is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Al Balushi's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
A slow jab from Al Balushi misses its intended target.
Al Balushi lets loose with a powerful body kick. Koivisto will feel that in the morning.
Al Balushi on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Al Balushi motions for Koivisto to come forward. Al Balushi throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Koivisto throws a head kick that misses.
Al Balushi tries a quick counter leg kick but Koivisto is wise to it.
Koivisto misses with a low kick as Al Balushi jumps back.
Koivisto throws a body shot but no joy.
Koivisto misses with a left hand
and Al Balushi counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Koivisto keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Koivisto throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Al Balushi counters with a nice uppercut.
Al Balushi defending well as Koivisto loads up on a big left hand.
Al Balushi lands with a nice body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Balushi on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Al Balushi pushes Koivisto away with a front kick.
Koivisto scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Al Balushi doesn't seem bothered though.
Koivisto misses with a straight left.
Koivisto looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Koivisto misses with a hook. Al Balushi ducked under it nicely.
Al Balushi looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Koivisto was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Nice straight punches there by Al Balushi. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Al Balushi.
Koivisto throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Al Balushi looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Al Balushi chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Al Balushi scores with a leg kick.
Koivisto moves into range and connects with a jab.
Koivisto throws a lazy right hand but Al Balushi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Al Balushi lands a head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koivisto digs a good hook to Al Balushi's body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Koivisto closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Al Balushi takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Al Balushi defending against the ground and pound.
Koivisto in side control, throwing shots but Al Balushi defends.
Al Balushi is trying to control Koivisto's posture but Koivisto avoids it.
Koivisto throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Al Balushi works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Nice strikes from Koivisto there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Zaid Al Balushi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Koivisto checks the leg kick.
Ultima Koivisto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Al Balushi looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Koivisto will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Al Balushi scores with a shot to the body.
Koivisto throws a body shot but no joy.
Al Balushi connects with a good right hand that stumbles Koivisto. Koivisto circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Al Balushi takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Koivisto has a takedown stuffed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Koivisto drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ultima Koivisto overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Koivisto landing with the ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Al Balushi is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Balushi preventing the sweep.
Al Balushi controlling from the top position.
Koivisto looking for a sweep. Not yet Koivisto, not yet.
Al Balushi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Koivisto is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Al Balushi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Koivisto.
Al Balushi keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Koivisto seems to be looking for submissions.
Koivisto not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Koivisto missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Koivisto is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Koivisto not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Koivisto is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Al Balushi sees it coming and defends easily.
Koivisto is nestled in close to Al Balushi, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Koivisto throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Koivisto lands a nice short elbow.
Koivisto trying to advance position but Al Balushi counters by regaining guard.
Al Balushi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Koivisto throws a big right hand that misses.
Koivisto throws a strike but Al Balushi rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Al Balushi must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Koivisto working for a triangle but Al Balushi defends it easily.
Al Balushi stopping the sweep attempt from Koivisto.

Koivisto throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Balushi stopping the sweep attempt from Koivisto.
Koivisto is looking to sweep but instead, Al Balushi has passed into half guard.
Koivisto throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Al Balushi keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Koivisto looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Koivisto strikes from the bottom but Al Balushi uses the opportunity to move to side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ultima Koivisto showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Al Balushi has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 48:47
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 48:48
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 48:48

The fight is ruled a majority draw!
Ultima Koivisto retains his title. It's always disappointing when a championship fight ends as a draw but that's what happens when you leave the fight in the judges hands!