PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Qasim Barakat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Boris Konstantinov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Konstantinov has chosen Hell March as his entrance music. This should be a great matchup!

Barakat
vs
Konstantinov

195 cm
24
250 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

178 cm
23
240 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Qasim Barakat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Boris Konstantinov!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Paul Aken and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Konstantinov throws a looping overhand right but Barakat ducks down to avoid it.
Konstantinov 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.
Konstantinov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Barakat was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Barakat has been working on his boxing with his coaches at The Shark Tank in the buildup to the fight.
Barakat ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Konstantinov moves away.
Konstantinov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
As Konstantinov looks to move away, Barakat throws a big counter combo but Konstantinov just gets out of the way.
Konstantinov throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Konstantinov lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Barakat has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Barakat and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A little feinted left hand from Barakat on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Barakat throws a head kick that half lands.

It looks like Boris Konstantinov has been cut.
Barakat blocks the body kick.
Konstantinov swings for the body but Barakat moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barakat waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Konstantinov.
Barakat throws a sloppy head kick
and Konstantinov makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Konstantinov fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Konstantinov throws out a loose jab but Barakat uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barakat misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Barakat moves forwards but Konstantinov connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Konstantinov throws the left hand but Barakat avoids the punch easily.
Barakat swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Konstantinov tries to counter with a clinch but Barakat shakes him off and moves away.
Konstantinov lands with a thumping leg kick.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Konstantinov has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Barakat is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Konstantinov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Barakat moves out of range of the strikes.
Konstantinov misses with a left hand
and Barakat counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nice body kick from Konstantinov.
A looping hook to the body misses from Konstantinov. Barakat does a little dance to reset his feet.
Konstantinov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Konstantinov. Beautiful body shot.
Konstantinov scores with a hook.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barakat blocks the body kick.
Konstantinov throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Konstantinov just misses with a punch to the body.
Decent striking displayed by Barakat there.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Konstantinov.
Konstantinov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Barakat.
A solid leg kick lands there for Barakat.
Konstantinov just misses with a punch to the body.
Konstantinov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Barakat feinted there with a counter leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barakat avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Konstantinov throws a sloppy body shot

and Barakat counters with a head kick that drops Konstantinov to the mat! Konstantinov scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!

Konstantinov is rocked!

That has opened up Boris Konstantinov's cut even more.
Barakat keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Konstantinov is still on wobbly legs! Can Barakat finish him?
Barakat displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Konstantinov throws out the jab.
Barakat half committed to a counter leg kick.
Konstantinov misses with a shot to the body
and Barakat counters with an outside leg kick.
Barakat ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Konstantinov throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Barakat counters with a beautiful right hand that knocks Konstantinov out cold! What a finish! Barakat is going crazy, running around the mat, summersaulting off the corner posts and screaming into the cameras. Something tells me he's pretty happy!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:29 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Qasim Barakat!
In his post fight interview, Qasim Barakat started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.