PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nino Az (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Quach Minh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Minh has chosen beautiful life as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Az
vs
Minh

185 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
180 lbs
3 - 7 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nino Az!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Quach Minh!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Yves DeLean and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Minh tries to close the distance and clinch up but Az swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A quick step to the side and Az tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Az shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Minh as he avoids it easily.
Az closes the distance and clinches up with Minh, looking for a takedown. Az pushes Minh against the cage but Minh circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Az goes for a double leg but Minh avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Minh continues to drive forward.
Minh is looking for the big counter here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nino Az. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Az misses with an attempted mid kick.
Minh tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Az defends well and Minh ends up having to push Az into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Az 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.
Minh steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Az.
Az throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Az. Minh shrugs it off though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Minh fails with a takedown attempt.
Az stuffs the takedown.
Minh looks winded!
Az stuffs the takedown attempt from Minh. Minh gets slowly back to his feet.
Az tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Minh manages to circle out of the way.
Minh should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minh takes a kick to the side of the head.

Az has Minh up against the cage in a clinch.
Az jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Minh walks away with a smile on his face. Az gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Az shoots in for a double leg but Minh sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Minh closes the distance and clinches up with Az, looking for a takedown. Minh pushes Az against the cage but Az circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Az tries for a takedown but Minh sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Minh is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Minh fails with an attempt to clinch.
Az looks for a takedown but Minh sprawls well.
Minh tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Az manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Minh tries to clinch but Az moves out of range.
Az changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Minh tries to score a power double leg takedown but Az sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Minh somewhat.
Minh misses with a takedown
and Az counters with a big head kick but Minh shrugs it off.
Nice sprawl there from Minh as Az shoots in.
Az shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Minh defends it nicely.
Minh misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Az fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Minh avoids it really well and circles away.
Az throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Az throws a right and a left that Minh avoids nicely.

Minh closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Az manages to break the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Az.
Minh shoots for a takedown but Az saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minh fails with the takedown.

Az clinches up against the cage.
Minh on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Az is pressed up against the cage. Minh has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Az down to the mat. Az avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Minh closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Az is looking for a takedown.
Az misses with a body punch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Az tries to throw a body punch but Minh avoids it by throwing Az back against the cage.
Az is trying to pull guard but Minh turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Minh misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Az.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nino Az dominated that round.
That's time! Az's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Az moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Az pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Az shoots in for a takedown but Minh shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Az has Minh up against the cage in a clinch.

Az jumps guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Minh got a little sloppy there for a moment and Az has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Minh has managed to get both his arms back between Az's legs - danger averted.
Minh's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Minh trying to control the position from guard on top but Az is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Minh controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Az has a closed guard, preventing Minh from standing up.
Az looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Az working a defensive guard here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Az fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Minh misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Az.
Minh is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nino Az. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Minh throws a sloppy head kick and Az moves out of range easily.
As Minh looks to move away, Az throws a big counter combo but Minh just gets out of the way.
Minh moves in looking to clinch but Az pushes him off.
Nino Az is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Minh shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Az as he avoids it easily.
Az has his takedown stuffed
and Minh counters with a left and a right that stings Az.
Az is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Minh can do to turn this around?
Az fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Minh gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Minh pulls guard.
Az pushing down on Minh's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Az is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Minh defends it well.
Minh is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Az's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Az's back!

Az preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Minh.
Az tries to break free.
Az trying to control the hands but Minh breaks the grip.
Az turns into Minh and is now in his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minh trying to keep a closed guard but Az is proving a slippery customer.

Az decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Minh gets tackled into the cage by Az. Az maintains the clinch.
Az has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Minh is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Az escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Az misses with a takedown attempt - Minh sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Minh fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Az avoids it really well and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Quach Minh will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

No joy there for Az, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Minh stuffs the takedown.
Minh stuffs the takedown.
Nice takedown defense from Az. No joy for Minh on that attempt.
Minh tries to clinch up but Az circles away and keeps his distance.
Minh defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Az.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nino Az. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Minh dives in and grabs Az's left leg, looking for a takedown. Az pushes down on Minh's head and hops out.
Minh fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Minh shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A bone on bone clash there as Az blocks the leg kick.
Az is looking to counter the offense by Minh and move into the clinch.
Az is trying hard to land a takedown here. Minh sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Minh tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Az swivels and escapes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minh leaves Az with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Minh is looking for the big counter here.
Az avoids a punch combination nicely.

Az has managed to clinch.
Minh missing with knees to the body.
Az lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Minh or not.

Az escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Az circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Az darts in and clinches Minh up against the cage.
Minh dodges an elbow strike from Az.
Az fails to pull guard.
Minh looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Minh tries to break the clinch but Az is controlling the position.
Minh with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Az leaning his opponent against the cage.
Az is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Minh fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Minh throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Az gets control of Minh's arms and successfully pulls guard. Az will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Az has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Minh is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Az.
Minh throws an elbow but Az slips to the side and avoids it well.
Quach Minh has got the better of the ground game so far.

Minh decides to stand back up.
Nino Az is winning the standup battle so far.
No joy there for Minh, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Az moves out of range as Minh throws a body kick.
Minh shoots in but no luck this time.

Az has closed the distance and engaged Minh in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Az working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Minh is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Az escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Az goes for a double leg but Minh avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Minh continues to drive forward.

Minh takes the fight into the clinch.
Minh drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Az content to slow the pace in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nino Az showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Az has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 30:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nino Az!
The defeated Quach Minh had this to say: 'fuck'.