PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kobe Bryant (ranked 1389 p4p, 146 weight class) and Qasim Barakat (ranked 2098 p4p, 219 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Bryant
vs
Barakat

192 cm
35
265 lbs
18 - 11 - 0

195 cm
32
250 lbs
23 - 15 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
IniTech Nutrition

Sin City Allstars

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 18 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kobe Bryant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 15 - 0, fighting out of New York, Qasim Barakat!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bryant throws a shot from downtown. Barakat moves away and avoids it.
Bryant misses with an uppercut
and Barakat counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bryant lands a jab.
Barakat tries a low kick but Bryant avoids it.
Barakat lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Barakat lands with a nice body kick.
Decent striking displayed by Barakat there.
Bryant tries to score with a low kick but Barakat moves his leg out of the way.
Bryant fails with an attempt to clinch.
Barakat appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Bryant has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Stratosphere in the buildup to the fight.
Bryant misses with a straight left.
Nice defenses there by Barakat.
Barakat misses with an uppercut.
Barakat is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bryant.
Bryant uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Barakat.
Bryant with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Bryant misses with a straight right.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barakat throws a sloppy head kick and Bryant moves out of range easily.
Barakat throws a wild body kick that Bryant sees coming a mile off.
It looked like Bryant was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Barakat slips a jab from Bryant.
Barakat looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Barakat lands a jab to Bryant's midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryant misses the shot to the body.
Good leg kick by Barakat there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Bryant takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Bryant on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Bryant takes one on the button.
Bryant throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bryant fails with the takedown
letting Barakat counter with a right hand.
Bryant misses with a hook
and Barakat counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Barakat ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

Barakat closes the distance and clinches.
Bryant tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Barakat's elbow.
Barakat misses with a short punch on the inside.
Barakat lands a shot to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bryant is looking to take this one to the mat.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Bryant takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Bryant wants to stall.
Bryant tries a body shot but Barakat blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Barakat.
Bryant can't find room to land a body shot as Barakat controls the action.
A shot in the inside from Bryant.
Bryant is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Bryant.
Barakat digs a right hand underneath Bryant's ribcage. Bryant let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Bryant is breathing heavily.
Bryant on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Barakat lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A short right from Barakat on the inside.
Barakat lands with a short shot to the head.
Barakat prevents a body shot from Bryant.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bryant.
Barakat tries to land knees in the clinch but Bryant avoids the damage to the body.
Bryant lands a hook to the side of the head.
Bryant misses with some punches.
Bryant tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Barakat gets through Bryant's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A right hand to the body from Barakat.
Bryant misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barakat lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Bryant swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Barakat misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Barakat is leaning against Bryant and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Barakat with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Barakat misses with a knee to the head.
Barakat working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Barakat tries a knee to the head but Bryant blocks it.
A right handed body shot lands from Barakat.
Bryant misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Barakat obliges.
Barakat landing knees to the head.
Barakat is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bryant is defending well for now.
Bryant's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barakat utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Barakat lands a nice shot to the body.
A short right from Barakat.
Barakat digs a right hand into Bryant's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Bryant's gas tank.
Barakat landing knees to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barakat is working Bryant over against the cage.
Barakat tries a knee to the head but Bryant blocks it.
Barakat missing with knees to the body.
Barakat missing with knees to the body.
Barakat lands a nice uppercut.
Barakat connects with a nasty looking knee right to Bryant's face.
Barakat blocks an uppercut.
Barakat tries a knee to the head but Bryant blocks it.
A nice right hand lands inside from Barakat.
Barakat lands with a light punch inside.
A short right from Barakat on the inside.
Barakat trying to land knees to the body.
Barakat blocks a body shot from Bryant.
Bryant takes a knee right on the jaw!
Bryant is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Barakat pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kobe Bryant. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barakat with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Bryant tries to work over Barakat's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Barakat throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Bryants head.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Barakat missing with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Qasim Barakat dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Barakat lands a jab.
Barakat cracks the inside of Bryant's front leg.
A shot to the body from Bryant misses
and Bryant takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Barakat jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Barakat scores with a hook to the body. Bryant takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Barakat has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Barakat pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Nice uppercut lands for Barakat. That snapped Bryant's head back.
Barakat fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Bryant.
Barakat lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
A slapping leg kick lands for Barakat.
Bryant connects with a nice looking jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barakat fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Bryant's jab looks to have found its range, popping Barakat under the eye.
Barakat wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Bryant throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bryant takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Barakat lands a head kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barakat scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Bryant looks to land a left hand but Barakat moved out of range nicely.
A shot to the liver by Barakat. Beautiful body shot.
Barakat on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Bryant misses with a straight left.
Barakat uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bryant.
Good leg kick by Barakat there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Bryant on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Bryant misses with a lunging right hand
and Barakat counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Barakat. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
That kick from Barakat tenderised Bryant's leg. Bryant is trying to keep his angry face on.
Bryant tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Bryant connects with a looping right hand.
Barakat connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Bryant momentarily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barakat jabs Bryant to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Bryant misses with a hook. Barakat ducked under it nicely.
Qasim Barakat is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bryant pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Barakat throws a push kick but Bryant slaps the foot to one side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barakat scores with a sloppy right hand. Bryant should have avoided that one.
Barakat swings for the body but Bryant moves out of range.
Bryant throws a jab when Barakat was well out of range.
Barakat misses with an uppercut.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Barakat.
Barakat ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Barakat scores with a nice strike.
Barakat throws a half hearted mid kick.
Barakat throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Bryant stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Bryant tries to score with a low kick but Barakat moves his leg out of the way.
Qasim Barakat seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bryant throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Barakat sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Barakat connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Barakat uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Bryant has time to react.
A clash of legs there as Barakat blocks the low kick.
Bryant throws a solid leg kick but Barakat takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Bryant.
Barakat lands a high kick!
Bryant throws the left hand but Barakat avoids the punch easily.
Bryant is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Bryant uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Barakat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bryant throws a leg kick but Barakat checks it.
Bryant misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Barakat.
Barakat changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Bryant takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bryant takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Barakat with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Bryant misses with a wild body shot.
A nice leg kick lands there from Barakat.
Barakat listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Bryant sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Barakat throws a nice outside leg kick.
Barakat scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Bryant tries to clinch but Barakat is having none of it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Barakat.
Bryant blocks a head kick by Barakat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Bryant fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Barakat, pushing him back against the cage.
Barakat with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Bryant scores with a nice short uppercut.
Bryant swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Bryant lands a shot to the body.
Barakat scores with a knee to the head.
Barakat takes a shot to the head.
Bryant is looking for a takedown.
Barakat tries to work over Bryant's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Barakat with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Barakat tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Barakat blocks an uppercut.
Bryant misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bryant tries to work over Barakat's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Barakat can't find room to land a body shot as Bryant controls the action.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barakat landing knees to the body.
Barakat lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Bryant blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Bryant throws a head punch that misses.
Bryant throws a punch but it's blocked by Barakat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Qasim Barakat showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Barakat scores with a jab to the head.
Bryant walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A combination from Bryant does no damage.
A shot to the liver by Barakat. Beautiful body shot.
Bryant takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Barakat avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Barakat lands a nice looking kick to the body. Bryant takes a step back to recover.
Both fighters circling a little - Barakat finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Bryant tries to close the distance and clinch up but Barakat swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bryant takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Barakat connects with a leg kick. Bryant looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Barakat connects with a leg kick. Bryant looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Bryant jabs at Barakat's body.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barakat blocks a low kick nicely.
Barakat scores with a nice body kick.
Both fighters circling a little - Barakat finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Barakat keeps the fight on the outside.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barakat lets loose with a powerful body kick. Bryant will feel that in the morning.
Bryant will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Barakat jabs at Bryant's body.
Barakat scoring well with a low kick there.
Bryant's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Barakat connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Bryant scrambles back to his feet.
Barakat feints and then cracks Bryant's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Bryant down.
Bryant misses with a hook
and Barakat counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bryant looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Barakat connects with a jab.
Bryant walks into a stiff left hand from Barakat.
Bryant scores with a nice strike.
Barakat thuds his right hand into Bryant's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Barakat smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bryant throws a body shot but no joy.

Barakat has taken the fight to the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Bryant.
Barakat tries to work over Bryant's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Bryant working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Kobe Bryant has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Qasim Barakat is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Bryant.
Bryant can't find room to land a body shot as Barakat controls the action.
Bryant misses with a body punch.
Bryant struggles to land a body shot inside as Barakat controls his hands.
Bryant slowing the pace effectively.
Barakat prevents a body shot from Bryant.
Bryant misses with a hook to the ribs.
Bryant misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Barakat blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Bryant is stalling here.
Bryant has a couple of punches blocked by Barakat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bryant misses with some punches.
Bryant looking for a takedown.
Bryant has a couple of punches blocked by Barakat.
Bryant misses with a hook to the ribs.
Bryant misses with some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Barakat.
Barakat blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Bryant struggles to land a body shot inside as Barakat controls his hands.
Barakat prevents a body shot from Bryant.
Bryant misses with a punch on the inside.
Barakat takes a shot to the head.
Barakat misses with a knee strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bryant tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Barakat misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bryant tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Barakat throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bryant blocks it with crossed arms.
Bryant fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Qasim Barakat seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Bryant stalling against the cage.
Bryant misses with a short punch on the inside.
Bryant tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Bryant is leaning against Barakat and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Bryant will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Barakat up against the cage.
Bryant tries to throw a body punch but Barakat avoids it by throwing Bryant back against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Qasim Barakat comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Barakat 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

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.