PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lauren Pickett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zalmai Qazi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Qazi has chosen "Arab Americans" by Jim Johnston as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Zalmai Qazi has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Lauren Pickett's chin.

Pickett
vs
Qazi

184 cm
22
140 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

172 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lauren Pickett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Zalmai Qazi!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Robert Douchet and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Qazi.
Qazi tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Pickett counters with a series of strikes. Qazi will be more careful next time no doubt.

Pickett gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Qazi to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Pickett working for a triangle but Qazi defends it easily.
Qazi trying to control the position from guard on top but Pickett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pickett is controlling Qazi's posture.
Qazi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pickett preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Qazi is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Zalmai Qazi was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Qazi shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Qazi showed some decent athleticism there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Qazi trying to control from half guard but Pickett is working away.
Pickett is trying is best to control the position here.

Pickett looking for submissions off his back.
Pickett holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Pickett is looking to improve his position.
Pickett avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Qazi.
Qazi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pickett keeps working.
Qazi stops Pickett from getting back to his feet.
Qazi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Pickett looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Qazi trying to control the action but Pickett is working from the bottom.
Qazi looks winded!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Qazi tries to pass the half guard into mount. Pickett knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Pickett is positioning himself well to prevent Qazi advancing to mount.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Qazi tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Pickett counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pickett working over Qazi with some ground and pound. Qazi looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Pickett takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Qazi taking some punishment here, with Pickett in his half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pickett working the head and body with strikes.
Pickett drops an elbow to the side of Qazi's head.
Pickett winds up and cracks Qazi with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Qazi is looking to improve his position.
Qazi on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pickett is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Qazi sees it coming and defends easily.

Qazi is looking to regain full guard. He's left an arm up in the air though and Pickett has latched onto it... Big trouble! Pickett pivots for an armbar - it's in tight and it Qazi is tapping in no time flat! Great counter grappling there from Pickett!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:40 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Lauren Pickett!