PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Qasim Barakat (ranked 1601 p4p, 192 weight class) and Serder Serderov (ranked 1641 p4p, 196 weight class). Serderov has chosen One step closer- Linkin Park as his entrance music. 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.

Barakat
vs
Serderov

195 cm
31
250 lbs
20 - 13 - 0

188 cm
35
262 lbs
18 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank

FORCEE

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 20 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Qasim Barakat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Serder Serderov!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Trevor Gratis and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Barakat.
Serderov throws a hook to the side of Barakat's head but Barakat sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Barakat scores with a hook.

Serderov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A left hand lands to the body for Barakat.
Barakat has a couple of punches blocked by Serderov.

Barakat breaks the clinch.
Barakat scores with a head kick. Serderov tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Serderov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Barakat throws a low kick, looking for Serderov's leg but Serderov calmly moves out of range.
Barakat lands a right hook to the body.
Serderov looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Barakat misses with a head kick.
Serderov is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Serderov walks into a straight right hand from Barakat.
Serderov looks to throw a body kick
letting Barakat counter with a right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barakat takes a swing at Serderov's ribcage but misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Serderov! But no joy.
Barakat throws a leg kick but Serderov sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Serderov throws a series of punches but Barakat moves out of range.
It looked like Barakat was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Serderov.
Serderov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Barakat moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Barakat throws the left hand but Serderov avoids the punch easily.
Serderov throws a half hearted mid kick.
Serderov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Serderov moves out of range of the body kick from Barakat.
Barakat throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Serderov stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Barakat defending well as Serderov loads up on a big left hand.
Serderov tries to move into range but Barakat moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Serderov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Serderov shapes to counter with a head kick.
Barakat stuns Serderov with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Barakat punishes Serderov's body with a nice straight punch.
Barakat ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Barakat circles away from the clinch attempt.
Serderov lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Serderov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Barakat looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Barakat tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Serderov was well out of range. Poor timing from Barakat.
Serderov swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Some wild striking there from Serderov.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Serderov turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Serderov throws a head kick but Barakat moves out of range.
Barakat dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barakat throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Serderov checks a low kick from Barakat.
Serderov lands with a kick to the temple. Barakat shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Barakat throws a nice outside leg kick.
Barakat is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Serderov plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Barakat just misses with a punch to the body.
Serderov moves out of range as Barakat throws a body kick.
Barakat throws a head kick but Serderov moves out of range.
Barakat drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Barakat connects with a solid leg kick.
Serderov takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Barakat uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Serderov has time to react.
Barakat avoids the head kick by Serderov.
Barakat throws a hook but Serderov avoids it easily.
Barakat takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Serderov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Barakat keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Serderov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Barakat.
Serderov drops his hands momentarily and Barakat takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Barakat. Serderov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Serderov lands a high kick!
A looping hook to the body misses from Barakat. Serderov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Barakat plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Barakat connects with a high kick.
Barakat jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Serderov rushes Barakat and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Barakat tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Barakat stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Serderov scores with a shot to the side of Barakat's head.
Barakat crunches a lovely knee into Serderov's ribcage.
Barakat connects with a knee to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barakat misses with a hook from the clinch.
Barakat landing knees to the head.
Barakat lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Serderov or not.
Barakat misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Serderov.
Barakat throws a punch but it's blocked by Serderov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Serderov manages to break the clinch.
Serderov walks into a stiff left hand from Barakat.
Barakat thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Serderov if he has to take too many more of those.
Serderov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Barakat.
A telegraphed right hand from Barakat misses the target.
Serderov throws a nice outside leg kick.
Barakat motions for Serderov to come forward. Barakat throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Serderov blocks the body kick.
Serderov looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Barakat misses with an uppercut
and Serderov counters with a body kick.
Serderov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Barakat.
Serderov lands with a nice body kick.
Serderov tried to score with a low kick but Barakat checks it.
Barakat misses with a wild body shot.
Barakat misses with a series of wild punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Crunch! Barakat slams his shin into Serderov's torso.
A nice leg kick lands there from Barakat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Qasim Barakat dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ouch! a nice leg kick from Barakat, right into the meat.
Serderov scores with a jab to the body.
Serderov takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Serderov closes the distance and clinches.
Serderov has had enough of the clinch but Barakat keeps him there for the moment.
Barakat tries a body shot but Serderov blocks it.
With the fighters up against the cage, Serderov throws an elbow but misses.

Serderov breaks the clinch.
Barakat throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Serderov stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Serderov misses with a head kick.
Serderov moves out of range of the body kick.
Serderov swinging wildly here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barakat jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Serderov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Serderov tries to clinch up but Barakat circles away and keeps his distance.
Barakat steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Serderov.
Barakat misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barakat scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Serderov fails to land with a series of punches.
Barakat wants to clinch up but Serderov keeps it at a distance.
Serderov takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Barakat moves out of range of the body kick from Serderov.
Serderov takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Serderov is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Barakat thows a left - swing and a miss!
Serderov is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Barakat with a body shot.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Serderov in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Barakat connects with the punch.
Qasim Barakat is winning the standup battle so far.
Barakat lands a nice hook to Serderov's body. Serderov takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Serderov lands a nice leg kick that just misses Barakat's sensitive parts.
Barakat loads up on a big right hand but Serderov slips the punch.
Barakat throws a leg kick which misses Serderov's front leg but catches the back leg as Serderov tries to avoid it.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Barakat fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Serderov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Barakat with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Barakat is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Serderov can do to turn this around?
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barakat scores with a spinning back kick!
Serderov ducks under a wild hook from Barakat.
A leg kick checked by Serderov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Serderov throws a leg kick
and Barakat counters with a body kick that stops Serderov in his tracks momentarily.
Barakat chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Barakat thows a left - swing and a miss!
Serderov's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Serderov tries to close the distance and clinch but Barakat swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Serderov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barakat was well out of range. Poor timing from Serderov.
Serderov looks to land a body kick but Barakat moved away.
Serderov stalks Barakat and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Barakat's face. Barakat staggers backwards, shaken.
Serderov tries to bum rush Barakat with a series of wild strikes but Barakat uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Barakat tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Serderov was well out of range. Poor timing from Barakat.
Barakat buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Barakat connects with a looping right hand.
Barakat looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Barakat misses with a body punch
and Serderov counters with a two punch combo.

Serderov moves into the clinch.
Serderov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Barakat has him pressed against the cage.
Serderov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Barakat landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barakat with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Serderov scores with a shoulder strike.
Barakat working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Serderov breaks from the clinch.
Serderov is looking to clinch.
Nice body punch from Barakat.
Serderov takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Serderov tries to clinch up.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Barakat, right into the meat.
Sloppy strikes from Serderov. Those never looked like landing.
Barakat scores with a three punch combo!
Serderov avoids a kick to the body.
Serderov swings for the body but Barakat moves out of range.
Barakat turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barakat looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Barakat pivots, looking for a leg kick but Serderov is out of range and Barakat settles back down.
Barakat avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Serderov stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Barakat.
Serderov takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Barakat throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Barakat throws a head kick but Serderov moves out of range.
A slow jab from Barakat misses its intended target.
Serderov tests Barakat's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Serderov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Barakat paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Serderov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Barakat looks for the body kick but Serderov saw that one coming.
Serderov has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Barakat.
Barakat dips to his left and cracks Serderov with an uppercut!
Barakat finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barakat lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Serderov at a distance.
Barakat throws a shot to the body.
Barakat misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Serderov.
Serderov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Qasim Barakat dominated that second round.
That's time! Barakat's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Good shot there by Barakat.
Barakat swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Barakat scores with a jab. Serderov acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Serderov crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Barakat - the referee stops the clock and Serderov gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Barakat. Serderov manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Barakat scores with a hook to the body. Serderov takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Barakat ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Serderov moves away.
Serderov is looking for the big counter here.
Barakat throws a combination. Serderov tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Barakat is looking to score with low kicks.
Barakat tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Serderov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Barakat blocks a head kick by Serderov.
Serderov misses with a body shot.
Barakat connects with a jab.
Serderov pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Barakat back to the cage. Serderov follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barakat punishes Serderov's body with a nice straight punch.
Barakat throws a low kick, looking for Serderov's leg but Serderov calmly moves out of range.
Serderov throws a leg kick but Barakat moved away.
Serderov takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Serderov slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Serderov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Barakat.
Serderov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Barakat lands a knee to the body.
Barakat lands a good knee to the midsection. Serderov won't want to take too many of those.

Barakat breaks from the clinch.
Serderov moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A jab lands there for Barakat.
Serderov gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Serderov takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Barakat circles away from the clinch attempt.
Barakat thuds his right hand into Serderov's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Barakat is looking to slow Serderov down with leg kicks.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Serderov scores with a push kick.
Barakat lands with a right hand.
Barakat lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Serderov at a distance.
Barakat connects with a jab.
Barakat cracks the inside of Serderov's front leg.
Qasim Barakat is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barakat misses with a body shot.
Barakat tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Serderov was well out of range. Poor timing from Barakat.
Barakat loads up on a big right hand but Serderov slips the punch.
Serderov blocks the body kick.
Serderov slips a straight right by Barakat.
Barakat swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Serderov tries to clinch
and Barakat counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Serderov doesn't manage to clinch there - Barakat circles away.
A counter left hand to the body from Barakat misses its target.
Barakat throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Barakat pivots, looking for a leg kick but Serderov is out of range and Barakat settles back down.
Serderov takes one on the button.
Barakat is looking to land body kicks.
Serderov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Barakat circles away quickly and effectively.
Serderov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Barakat dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Barakat fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barakat is looking to land body kicks.
Serderov has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Barakat.
Barakat thows a left - swing and a miss!
Barakat slips a jab and a cross from Serderov.
Barakat lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Serderov on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Serderov moves into the clinch successfully.
Serderov wants to break free but Barakat has control.
Serderov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Serder Serderov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Serderov has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Serderov takes a knee to the side of the body.
Serderov has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Barakat keeps control of Serderov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Barakat tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Serderov avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barakat prevents Serderov from breaking the clinch.
Barakat tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Serderov's elbow.
Barakat has Serderov pressed against the cage, preventing Serderov from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Serderov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Barakat has him pressed against the cage.
Serderov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Serderov tries to break free but Barakat pushes him back against the cage.
Barakat lands a nice uppercut.

Serderov manages to break the clinch.

Barakat drives through and clinches with Serderov against the cage.
Serderov misses with an elbow strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Qasim Barakat showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Barakat has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Qasim Barakat!
Qasim Barakat took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, FORCEE for their support in the buildup to the fight.