PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ultima Koivisto (ranked 41 p4p, 71 weight class) and Zaid Al Balushi (ranked 5 p4p, 7 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Koivisto
vs
Al Balushi

173 cm
33
158
28 - 11 - 1

180 cm
32
155
16 - 4 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
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 - 1, 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 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zaid Al Balushi!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Al Balushi walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Koivisto checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Koivisto is looking to counter punch.
A thudding body kick lands there by Al Balushi!
An inside leg kick lands from Al Balushi.
Al Balushi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Al Balushi throws a leg kick
and Koivisto connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

It looks like Zaid Al Balushi has been cut.
Al Balushi avoids the head kick by Koivisto.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Al Balushi! But no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Koivisto gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Al Balushi tries to throw a body punch but Koivisto avoids it by throwing Al Balushi back against the cage.
Koivisto working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Al Balushi throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Balushi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Koivisto blocks a body shot from Al Balushi.
Al Balushi tries a body shot but Koivisto blocks it.
Al Balushi is pressed up against the cage. Koivisto has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Al Balushi down to the mat. Al Balushi avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Koivisto on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Nice body punch from Al Balushi.
Koivisto misses with a double jab.
Al Balushi looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Koivisto has been working on his boxing with his coaches at FF Forever in the buildup to the fight.
Koivisto connects with a nice looking jab.
Al Balushi looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Al Balushi tries a low kick but Koivisto avoids it.
Al Balushi looks to land a left hand but Koivisto moved out of range nicely.
Zaid Al Balushi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Koivisto checks a low kick from Al Balushi.
Koivisto was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Balushi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Koivisto takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Al Balushi misses with a body kick.
An attempted straight right counter from Koivisto misses the target.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Koivisto.
Zaid Al Balushi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Al Balushi throws a good cross that connects.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Al Balushi throws a big shot that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Balushi circles away from the clinch attempt
and Al Balushi counters with a two punch combo.
Koivisto scores with a jab.
Al Balushi throws a leg kick
and Koivisto cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Al Balushi is rocked!
Koivisto moves out of range of the leg kick from Al Balushi.
Koivisto throws a right hand that misses
and Al Balushi makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Koivisto misses with a looping right.
Al Balushi throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Al Balushi.
Koivisto takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Koivisto throws a lazy head kick
and Al Balushi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Al Balushi chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Koivisto doesn't manage to clinch there - Al Balushi circles away.
Koivisto tries to move into range but Al Balushi moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Koivisto stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Al Balushi.
Al Balushi moves away from the strike by Koivisto.
Al Balushi on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zaid Al Balushi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Zaid Al Balushi's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Koivisto fails with the takedown
and Al Balushi makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Al Balushi pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Koivisto back to the cage. Al Balushi follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Koivisto keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Al Balushi is still on wobbly legs! Can Koivisto finish him?
Al Balushi scores with a jab.
Al Balushi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Koivisto misses with a body shot.
Al Balushi seems to have recovered his senses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Balushi misses with a straight right.
Al Balushi misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Oooooh!!! Koivisto has knocked Al Balushi down with a huge combo! Koivisto steps away and waves a wobbly Al Balushi back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!
Al Balushi scoring well with a low kick there.
Koivisto gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Al Balushi counters with a nice uppercut.
Koivisto blocks a leg kick.
Koivisto feinted with a counter takedown.
Koivisto walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Al Balushi misses with a hook. Koivisto ducked under it nicely.
Koivisto half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Koivisto wants to clinch up but Al Balushi keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Balushi feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Koivistos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
A jab lands there for Koivisto.

That has opened up Zaid Al Balushi's cut even more.
Al Balushi with the inside leg kick.
Koivisto misses with a looping left.
Al Balushi missing with a left hand there. Koivisto was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A little feinted left hand from Koivisto on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
A punch combination from Koivisto misses.
Al Balushi was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Koivisto avoids a kick to the body.
A little feinted left hand from Koivisto on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Zaid Al Balushi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Al Balushi throws a lazy right hand but Koivisto sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Koivisto went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Al Balushi.
Al Balushi with a nice cross.
Al Balushi scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Al Balushi has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Al Balushi throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
It looked like Koivisto was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Al Balushi.
Koivisto misses with a hook.
Koivisto is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Koivisto listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
A slapping leg kick lands for Al Balushi.
Al Balushi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Koivisto.
Koivisto scores with a nice head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Koivisto drives through and clinches with Al Balushi against the cage.
Koivisto blocks a body shot from Al Balushi.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Al Balushi.
Koivisto on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Al Balushi blocks an uppercut.
Al Balushi crunches a lovely knee into Koivisto's ribcage.
Al Balushi lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Koivisto misses with a punch on the inside.
Al Balushi working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Koivisto tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Al Balushi lands a body punch.
Al Balushi working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Al Balushi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Koivisto's elbow.
Al Balushi blocks an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Al Balushi.
Al Balushi blocks an uppercut.
Al Balushi has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Koivisto seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Al Balushi can turn it around.
Zaid Al Balushi seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A short right from Koivisto on the inside.
Koivisto lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Zaid Al Balushi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Zaid Al Balushi's cut.
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.

Koivisto sizes up Al Balushi with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Al Balushi's jab looks to have found its range, popping Koivisto under the eye.
Al Balushi looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Koivisto swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Al Balushi swats away the attempt to clinch by Koivisto.
A low kick from Al Balushi misses
and Koivisto counters with a stiff right hand.
Al Balushi fakes the leg kick and cracks Koivisto in the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koivisto stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Al Balushi.
A jab lands there for Al Balushi.
Al Balushi connects with a solid leg kick.
Al Balushi scores with a nice strike.
Al Balushi looks to throw the jab but Koivisto is out of range.
Koivisto throwing a counter right hand but Al Balushi manages to avoid it.
Al Balushi swings for the body but Koivisto moves out of range.
Koivisto is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Al Balushi lands a jab.
Koivisto moves out of range of the leg kick from Al Balushi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Balushi throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Koivisto feinted with a counter takedown.
Al Balushi swats away the attempt to clinch by Koivisto.
Al Balushi only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Al Balushi misses with a few strikes there.
Koivisto drops down looking for a counter takedown but Al Balushi sprawls and moves away.
Al Balushi misses the shot to the body.
Koivisto has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Al Balushi.
Al Balushi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Koivisto was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Al Balushi scores with a crisp jab that stopped Koivisto in his tracks.
Al Balushi fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koivisto misses with a looping left.
Koivisto backing away here, and Al Balushi unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Al Balushi connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Koivisto's hands.
Koivisto looks to land a right hand but Al Balushi moved out of range.
Koivisto throws an off balance right hand
and Al Balushi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Al Balushi throws a series of strikes that have Koivisto backpedaling.
Koivisto takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Al Balushi fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Nice shot by Al Balushi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Balushi tries to score with a low kick but Koivisto moves his leg out of the way.
Al Balushi tests Koivisto's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Al Balushi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Al Balushi connects with a jab.
Al Balushi will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
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.
Al Balushi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Koivisto.
Al Balushi lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Al Balushi loads up on a big right hand but Koivisto slips the punch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zaid Al Balushi really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Zaid Al Balushi's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A left lands for Al Balushi.
Koivisto checks the leg kick nicely there.
Koivisto darts in trying to clinch
and Koivisto takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Al Balushi wants to land a leg kick but Koivisto is out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koivisto throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Al Balushi feints a counter leg kick.
Koivisto looks to land a left hand but Al Balushi moved out of range nicely.
Koivisto walks into a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koivisto on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Al Balushi pivots, looking for a leg kick but Koivisto is out of range and Al Balushi settles back down.
Koivisto has his takedown stuffed
and Al Balushi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Koivisto misses with a shot to the body
letting Al Balushi counter with a right hand.
Al Balushi lands a front kick.
Al Balushi throws a quick inside leg kick.
A right-left combo lands from Al Balushi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koivisto on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Al Balushi cracks a nice hook into Koivisto's ribs.
Koivisto tries to clinch up but Al Balushi circles away and keeps his distance.
A jab lands there for Al Balushi.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Al Balushi misses with a straight left.
Koivisto throwing a counter right hand but Al Balushi manages to avoid it.
Al Balushi misses with a kick to the body
and Koivisto counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Al Balushi.
Koivisto attempts a counter takedown but Al Balushi avoids it well and moves away.
Al Balushi changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koivisto on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Al Balushi plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Al Balushi throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Al Balushi throws out a powerful jab.
A jab from Al Balushi misses.
A solid leg kick lands there for Al Balushi.
Al Balushi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Koivisto missing with a left hand there. Al Balushi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Koivisto with that takedown attempt.
Koivisto takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Al Balushi tries to clinch but Koivisto moves out of range.
Koivisto seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Al Balushi is looking to land body kicks.
Koivisto darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Koivisto walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zaid Al Balushi dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Zaid Al Balushi's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Koivisto steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Al Balushi.
Ultima Koivisto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Al Balushi fakes the leg kick and cracks Koivisto in the body.
Al Balushi throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Koivisto on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Al Balushi. Al Balushi obviously looking to wear him down.
The fighters circle momentarily. Koivisto darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
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 defending well as Al Balushi loads up on a big left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Balushi throws a quick inside leg kick.
Al Balushi lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Koivisto shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Al Balushi as he avoids it easily.
Al Balushi connects with a solid leg kick.
Al Balushi scores with a nice strike.
Good leg kick by Al Balushi.
Koivisto misses with a double jab.
And Al Balushi responds with a good body kick, but Koivisto manages to step out the way in time.
Koivisto walks into a left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Balushi misses with a straight right.
Koivisto misses with a hook
and Al Balushi counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Koivisto thinking.
A jab from Al Balushi does it's job there.
Al Balushi looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Koivisto misses with a right hand
and Al Balushi makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Al Balushi looks for the body kick but Koivisto saw that one coming.
Al Balushi scores with a hook.
Al Balushi moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Koivisto has closed the distance and engaged Al Balushi in a clinch.
Koivisto will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Koivisto makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Good body shot from Koivisto.
Al Balushi tries a body shot but Koivisto blocks it.
Al Balushi is looking to control Koivisto's arms but Koivisto gets an underhook and turns him. Now Al Balushi has his back to the cage.
Koivisto lands a body punch.
Al Balushi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Al Balushi misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Koivisto.
Koivisto tries to score a body lock takedown but Al Balushi shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Koivisto fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Koivisto swings wildly with an uppercut but Al Balushi uses good head movement to avoid it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Koivisto.

Al Balushi manages to break the clinch.
Koivisto misses with a looping left.
Al Balushi attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Koivisto is looking to counter punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koivisto fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ultima Koivisto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Al Balushi lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Donk. Al Balushi catches Koivisto right on the button with a cross.
Koivisto throws a body punch but Al Balushi moves out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Al Balushi.
Al Balushi just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromKoivisto.
Koivisto misses with an uppercut
and Al Balushi counters with a nice uppercut.
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!
Koivisto looks to land a left hand but Al Balushi moved out of range nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zaid Al Balushi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Al Balushi winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 45:50
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 45:50
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zaid Al Balushi!
Zaid Al Balushi is the new lightweight champion!
During a confident post fight interview, Zaid Al Balushi thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.