PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ahmed Al Balawi (ranked 3086 p4p, 0 weight class) and Khaled Al Khuzeem (ranked 4328 p4p, 0 weight class). Khaled Al Khuzeem acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Al Balawi
vs
Al Khuzeem

175 cm
25
156 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

178 cm
25
157 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Very strong

Good wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ahmed Al Balawi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Khaled Al Khuzeem!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Winston Alpacca and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good work by Al Balawi as he checks the leg kick.
Al Balawi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Al Khuzeem moves into range and clinches up with Al Balawi.

Al Khuzeem gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Al Balawi wants to control but Al Khuzeem is keeping busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Al Khuzeem is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Al Balawi sees it coming and defends easily.

Al Khuzeem is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Balawi is trying to control but can't.
Al Balawi wants to get back to full guard.
Al Khuzeem wants to free his trapped foot but Al Balawi is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Al Khuzeem is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Al Balawi doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Al Khuzeem.
Al Balawi trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Al Balawi is trying to stand up here but Al Khuzeem is controlling him well.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
An inside leg kick from Al Khuzeem misses.
Al Balawi is looking to clinch.
Al Khuzeem throws a solid leg kick but Al Balawi takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Al Khuzeem.
Al Balawi is looking to clinch.
Al Khuzeem slaps away a takedown attempt from Al Balawi, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Al Khuzeem gets a takedown into half guard.
Al Balawi makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Al Balawi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Khuzeem wants to stand but Al Balawi has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Al Khuzeem stands and steps away. Al Balawi gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Al Balawi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Al Khuzeem circles away.
Al Balawi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Al Khuzeem swivels and escapes.
Al Khuzeem looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ahmed Al Balawi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Al Khuzeem misses with a few strikes there.
Al Khuzeem misses with a jab, cross combination.
Al Khuzeem catches Al Balawi with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Al Balawi tries to clinch but Al Khuzeem moves away

and Al Khuzeem counters with a nice double leg into side control. Al Balawi won't be happy with that.
Al Balawi wants to control but Al Khuzeem postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Khuzeem wants to stand but Al Balawi has his arm trapped.
Al Khuzeem lands a few punches from side control.
Al Balawi can't do much from the bottom here.
Al Khuzeem wants to take a breather but Al Balawi manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Al Khuzeem.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Al Balawi thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Al Balawi controls Al Khuzeem momentarily but Al Khuzeem frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Al Khuzeem misses the shot to the body.
Al Balawi tries to land a body kick

and Al Khuzeem counters with a takedown into side control.
Al Khuzeem landing a few strikes.
Al Khuzeem lands an elbow.
Al Khuzeem is looking to take a break and control but Al Balawi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Al Khuzeem scores with a couple of short elbows.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Khuzeem working away.
Al Khuzeem tries to move to mount but Al Balawi blocks the move with his legs.
Al Balawi is looking to regain half guard here but Al Khuzeem keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Balawi manages to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Al Balawi taking some punishment here, with Al Khuzeem in his half guard.
Al Balawi wants to control but Al Khuzeem is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Al Balawi is pressing down on Al Khuzeem's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Al Balawi has a closed guard, preventing Al Khuzeem from standing up.
Al Balawi keeping full guard, as Al Khuzeem tries to pass.
Al Khuzeem preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Al Khuzeem connects with a couple of short punches.
Al Balawi is pulling down on Al Khuzeem's head to control his posture.
Al Khuzeem trying to control but Al Balawi is working from the bottom.
Al Khuzeem tries to stand but Al Balawi is controlling from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Al Balawi has his takedown stuffed
and Al Khuzeem counters with a series of strikes. Al Balawi will be more careful next time no doubt.
Ahmed Al Balawi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Al Khuzeem swats away the attempt to clinch by Al Balawi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Balawi tries for a takedown but Al Khuzeem sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Al Khuzeem scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Al Khuzeem takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Khaled Al Khuzeem has got the better of the ground game so far.
Al Khuzeem working Al Balawi over with strikes.

Al Khuzeem is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Al Balawi is just riding it out for now. Al Khuzeem eventually gives up the hold.
Al Balawi trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Al Khuzeem lands a nice short elbow.
Al Khuzeem tries to stand and escape but Al Balawi is controlling the position.

Al Balawi looking for submissions off his back.
Al Khuzeem tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Al Khuzeem wants to stand up but Al Balawi manages to regain full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Al Balawi keeping moving, preventing Al Khuzeem from controlling successfully.
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.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Al Balawi.
Al Khuzeem fails with a takedown attempt.
Al Balawi shoots in looking for a takedown. Al Khuzeem tries to sprawl out of it but Al Balawi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Al Khuzeem manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Al Balawi gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Al Khuzeem to score an easy takedown into full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Khuzeem won't allow Al Balawi to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Khuzeem postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Al Khuzeem has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Al Khuzeem looking to pass the guard.
Al Balawi is looking to stand up but Al Khuzeem isn't so interested in that idea.
Al Balawi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Al Khuzeem missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Al Khuzeem must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Al Khuzeem wants to control from the top but Al Balawi keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
No luck for Al Balawi with that takedown attempt.

Al Khuzeem rushes Al Balawi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Al Khuzeem has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Al Balawi regains guard immediately.

Al Balawi scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Al Khuzeem gets a clinch.

Al Balawi drags the fight down to the ground.
Al Khuzeem lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Al Khuzeem keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Al Balawi's head.
Al Balawi is trying to control the position but Al Khuzeem postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Al Khuzeem looking to sit in guard and control but Al Balawi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Al Khuzeem is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Balawi trying to stand up but can't free himself from Al Khuzeem's guard.
Al Balawi wants to pass the guard but Al Khuzeem is keeping the position.
Al Khuzeem has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Al Balawi has passed into side control.
Al Khuzeem trying to control but Al Balawi flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Al Balawi is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Al Khuzeem is defending well though. Al Balawi let's go of the attempt for now.
Ahmed Al Balawi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Khaled Al Khuzeem is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Al Balawi misses with an elbow to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ahmed Al Balawi.
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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 28:29

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