PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tariq Ziyad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and William Harrison (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Harrison has chosen God's Gonna Cut You Down as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Ziyad
vs
Harrison

188 cm
26
191 lbs
13 - 2 - 0

185 cm
28
195 lbs
16 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Rōnin
MADE IN GERMANY

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tariq Ziyad!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, William Harrison!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Ian Loll and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ziyad tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Harrison paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ziyad takes a jab right on the kisser.
Ziyad connects with an inside leg kick.
Harrison swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ziyad changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Harrison tries to avoid it but Ziyad manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Harrison to the ground. Harrison escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ziyad throws a head kick but Harrison moves out of range.
Ziyad looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Harrison is fending him off so far but Ziyad persists. Nope, Harrison circles away and we're back to standing.
Ziyad tries a head kick but it misses.
Harrison fails with a takedown attempt.
Harrison lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from Harrison misses.
Tariq Ziyad seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Harrison shoots in and drives through. Ziyad sprawls well.
Harrison throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ziyad's waist but Ziyad gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Harrison off to one side.
Tariq Ziyad has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of William Harrison.
Harrison scores with a punch to the head.

Ziyad shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Harrison is trying to defend but Ziyad finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Ziyad is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Harrison gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harrison not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Harrison looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ziyad trying to control the position from guard on top but Harrison is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ziyad content to stall in guard here.
Harrison manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ziyad manages to get himself to full guard.
Harrison passes Ziyad's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Harrison is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ziyad has managed to free his arm - good work.
Harrison is nestled in close to Ziyad, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ziyad is pressing down on Harrison's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Harrison trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Ziyad manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Harrison keeping moving, preventing Ziyad from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ziyad got a little sloppy there for a moment and Harrison has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ziyad has managed to get both his arms back between Harrison's legs - danger averted.
Ziyad stopping the sweep attempt from Harrison.

Harrison working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ziyad doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ziyad manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ziyad looking to pass the guard.
Ziyad passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harrison parries the strikes from Ziyad easily there. Ziyad is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Harrison to escape.
Harrison holding on.
Harrison is looking to regain half guard here but Ziyad keeps moving and retains side control.

Ziyad looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Ziyad is looking to take a break and control but Harrison is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Ziyad tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ziyad 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.

That was a close round but I would say that Tariq Ziyad will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Harrison throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Ziyad was covering up waiting for the punch and Harrison finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Harrison stopping the sweep attempt from Ziyad.
Ziyad trying to keep a closed guard but Harrison is proving a slippery customer.
Ziyad keeping moving, preventing Harrison from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ziyad is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Harrison trying to control but Ziyad is working from the bottom.
Ziyad 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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Harrison throws a looping overhand right but Ziyad ducks down to avoid it.
Ziyad fails with the takedown

and Harrison counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Ziyad moves into full guard.
Harrison not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harrison passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Harrison tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Ziyad is looking to reverse the position.
Ziyad is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Harrison has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Harrison wants to control for a moment but Ziyad uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harrison prevents Ziyad from improving his position.
Ziyad has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Harrison is working away from the top position though.
Ziyad tries to roll over but Harrison keeps him under control.
Ziyad regains full guard. Nicely done.
Ziyad wants to sweep but no luck.
Harrison trying to control the position from guard on top but Ziyad is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Harrison won't allow Ziyad to sweep him here.

Harrison thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ziyad trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Harrison trying to control the position from guard on top but Ziyad is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ziyad is on top in guard.
Ziyad wants to control from the top but Harrison keeps moving.
Ziyad with a nice head shot there.

Harrison is looking to sinch up a triangle. Ziyad throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Harrison's body to avoid the submission. Harrison has instead reached around Ziyad's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Harrison arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:52 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). William Harrison!