PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Frances Gibbs (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. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Gibbs
vs
Qazi

155 cm
18
140 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

172 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Frances Gibbs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Zalmai Qazi!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Yves DeLean and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Qazi wants to clinch.
Qazi looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Qazi tries to grapple but his opponent circles

so Gibbs counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Gibbs scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Gibbs stands up over Qazi, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gibbs accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gibbs lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Gibbs content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Gibbs throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Qazi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gibbs with a nice head shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gibbs missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gibbs lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Gibbs might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gibbs accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gibbs working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gibbs content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Qazi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gibbs lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Qazi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gibbs cracks Qazi with a solid left hand.
Gibbs knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Qazi on the ground.
Gibbs working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Qazi's head.
Gibbs scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Gibbs lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Gibbs is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Qazi wants to improve his position but instead Gibbs has moved into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gibbs winds up and cracks Qazi with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Qazi on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Gibbs scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Qazi is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Gibbs scores with a couple of nice shots.
Gibbs lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Gibbs there.
Gibbs lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Gibbs is working for a kimura but Qazi is defending it quite comfortably.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gibbs is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frances Gibbs dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Qazi tries to keep at a distance but Gibbs has taken the fight into the clinch.

Gibbs pulls guard successfully.
Qazi preventing the sweep.
Gibbs throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Gibbs is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Qazi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Frances Gibbs overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gibbs pulls Qazi in close to prevent any damage.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Frances Gibbs just wasn't active enough.
Qazi tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Gibbs counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gibbs throws a lazy right hand but Qazi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zalmai Qazi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Qazi is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Qazi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gibbs is fending him off so far but Qazi persists. Nope, Gibbs circles away and we're back to standing.

Gibbs is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Qazi's half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Gibbs connects with a nice short shot to Qazi's temple.

Gibbs seems to be looking for submissions.
Gibbs is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Gibbs seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
We've been informed that Qazi has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gibbs seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Gibbs scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Gibbs working Qazi over with strikes.
Gibbs working over Qazi with some ground and pound. Qazi looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Gibbs is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Qazi can do to turn this around?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gibbs working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gibbs is nestled in close to Qazi, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Gibbs working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Qazi has hold of Gibbs's hands but Gibbs slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Gibbs scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Gibbs landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Gibbs is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Qazi is just riding it out for now. Gibbs eventually gives up the hold.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Qazi taking some punishment here, with Gibbs in his half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Gibbs is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Qazi is just riding it out for now. Gibbs eventually gives up the hold.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frances Gibbs dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Gibbs moves into the clinch successfully.

Gibbs gets control of Qazi's arms and successfully pulls guard. Gibbs will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Gibbs is controlling Qazi's posture.

Gibbs is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Qazi is aware though and is defending well.

Gibbs escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Qazi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Qazi trying to control but Gibbs is working from the bottom.
Qazi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Qazi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gibbs is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Qazi throws an elbow that misses. Gibbs uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Qazi's guard. Nice move by Gibbs!
Gibbs is working Qazi over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Gibbs postures up and lands a big shot to Qazi's brow.
Gibbs lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Qazi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gibbs is one step ahead there.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Gibbs's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Gibbs content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Gibbs has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Gibbs lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gibbs lands a couple of digs.
Gibbs lands a couple of elbows.
Gibbs is working Qazi over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Gibbs working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Qazi's head.
Qazi has momentary wrist control but Gibbs slips an elbow through the middle.
Qazi wants to hit a switch here but Gibbs passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Qazi there!
The referee warns Qazi that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Zalmai Qazi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Gibbs cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Gibbs looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Gibbs has hold of Qazi's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Qazi manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Frances Gibbs is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
BOOM! Gibbs connects with a massive shot to the dome!

And that's the end of the fight!
Frances Gibbs showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gibbs has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frances Gibbs!