PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tomasz Soszynski (ranked 5004 p4p, 0 weight class) and Khaled Al Khuzeem (ranked 5342 p4p, 0 weight class). Soszynski has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Tomasz Soszynski has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Soszynski
vs
Al Khuzeem

175 cm
25
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

178 cm
25
157 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tomasz Soszynski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Khaled Al Khuzeem!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Sandra Marshall and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Al Khuzeem rushes Soszynski and presses him up against the cage.

Al Khuzeem pulls guard successfully.

Al Khuzeem is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Soszynski is aware though and is defending well.
Al Khuzeem wants to stand and escape but Soszynski is having none of it.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Al Khuzeem can do anything to dispel that myth.
Al Khuzeem wants to sweep but no luck.

Soszynski avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Al Khuzeem really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Soszynski. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Al Khuzeem looking for a guillotine here but Soszynski defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Al Khuzeem is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soszynski won't allow Al Khuzeem to get back to his feet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Al Khuzeem moves into range and clinches up with Soszynski.
Soszynski is trying to push Al Khuzeem away but Al Khuzeem has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Al Khuzeem takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Soszynski has Al Khuzeem pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Al Khuzeem manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Soszynski is breathing heavily.
Soszynski has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Al Khuzeem jumps guard and drags Soszynski to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Al Khuzeem is looking for a triangle but Soszynski pushes his legs off easily.
Al Khuzeem is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Khuzeem bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Soszynski's guard.

Al Khuzeem must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Al Khuzeem is looking to work some ground and pound but Soszynski has wrist control.
Soszynski has a closed guard, preventing Al Khuzeem from standing up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Al Khuzeem's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Al Khuzeem works over Soszynski with some ground and pound from guard.
Al Khuzeem wanted to stand there but Soszynski had control of the position.
Al Khuzeem trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Khuzeem landing with the ground and pound.
Al Khuzeem trying to control but Soszynski is working from the bottom.
Al Khuzeem working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Soszynski's head.
Al Khuzeem makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Soszynski has his foot on Al Khuzeem's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Al Khuzeem works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Khuzeem pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Soszynski is keeping the position for now.
Al Khuzeem has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Soszynski is proving hard to escape from.
Al Khuzeem looking to pass the guard.
Al Khuzeem lands a couple of digs.
Al Khuzeem sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Soszynski's guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Al Khuzeem looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Al Khuzeem is looking for a kimura here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khaled Al Khuzeem dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Al Khuzeem throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Soszynski on the side of the head.

Al Khuzeem looking to score a takedown here. Soszynski is defending well but Al Khuzeem drives through and ends up in Soszynski's guard.
Al Khuzeem stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Soszynski swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Al Khuzeem postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Khuzeem scoring with some ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Al Khuzeem with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Al Khuzeem working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soszynski has momentary wrist control but Al Khuzeem slips an elbow through the middle.
Soszynski keeping moving, preventing Al Khuzeem from controlling successfully.
Al Khuzeem tries to stand but Soszynski is controlling from the bottom.
Al Khuzeem has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Soszynski is looking to stand up but Al Khuzeem isn't so interested in that idea.
Al Khuzeem working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Soszynski's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Al Khuzeem lands a couple of digs.
Al Khuzeem engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Al Khuzeem trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Al Khuzeem drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Al Khuzeem jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Al Khuzeem landing some decent shots from guard.
Al Khuzeem looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Khuzeem landing with the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Al Khuzeem wants to stand but Soszynski has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Al Khuzeem trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Al Khuzeem closes the distance and clinches.

Al Khuzeem has clasped his hands together around Soszynski's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Al Khuzeem tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Khuzeem landing a few strikes.
Al Khuzeem cracks Soszynski with a big elbow.

Al Khuzeem wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Soszynski, who protects the arm well.

Al Khuzeem tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Al Khuzeem tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Al Khuzeem has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khaled Al Khuzeem showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Soszynski's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Al Khuzeem throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Soszynski tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Al Khuzeem is in Soszynski's guard.
Al Khuzeem distracts Soszynski with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Al Khuzeem wants to get up but he can't break Soszynski's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Al Khuzeem trying to control the position from guard on top but Soszynski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Soszynski throwing short punches from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Khuzeem trying to control the position from guard on top but Soszynski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Khuzeem is in close to Soszynski's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Soszynski keeping full guard, as Al Khuzeem tries to pass.
Al Khuzeem with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Soszynski keeping moving, preventing Al Khuzeem from controlling successfully.
Al Khuzeem tries to free his leg and advance position but Soszynski is retaining full guard.
Al Khuzeem trying to control the position from guard on top but Soszynski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Al Khuzeem fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Soszynski sprawls well initially but Al Khuzeem persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Al Khuzeem wants to free his trapped foot but Soszynski is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Al Khuzeem is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Al Khuzeem drops an elbow to the side of Soszynski's head.
Al Khuzeem drops an elbow to the side of Soszynski's head.
Al Khuzeem working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Al Khuzeem is looking for a kimura but Soszynski is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Al Khuzeem to get the leverage.
Al Khuzeem tries to pass the half guard into mount. Soszynski knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Soszynski is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Al Khuzeem scores with a couple of nice shots.

Al Khuzeem is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Soszynski sees it coming and defends easily.
Al Khuzeem wants to free his trapped foot but Soszynski is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Al Khuzeem tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Al Khuzeem is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Al Khuzeem lands a nice short elbow.

Al Khuzeem looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Al Khuzeem lands with a punch from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Khaled Al Khuzeem comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Al Khuzeem has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 26:30
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 26:30
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Khaled Al Khuzeem!