PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Azar Qasi (ranked 724 p4p, 89 weight class) and Ethan Sheehy (ranked 1033 p4p, 126 weight class). Qasi's entrance music is For Whom The Bell Tolls. A fine choice. Sheehy has chosen Tree falls - Timber! 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.

Qasi
vs
Sheehy

180 cm
36
166 lbs
32 - 14 - 1

168 cm
24
149 lbs
9 - 6 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 32 - 14 - 1, fighting out of New York, Azar Qasi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Ethan Sheehy!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Robert Twigg and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sheehy loads up on a big right hand but Qasi slips the punch.
Qasi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sheehy lands with an uppercut that bounces Qasi off the cage and back into range.
Qasi looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
That kick from Sheehy tenderised Qasi's leg. Qasi is trying to keep his angry face on.
Qasi connects with a good right hand that stumbles Sheehy. Sheehy circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

It looks like Ethan Sheehy has been cut.
Qasi getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Sheehy catches Qasi with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Qasi getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Sheehy on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Sheehy misses with a straight left.
Sheehy lands a nice looking body kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Qasi throws a head kick that misses.
Qasi on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Qasi lands a slapping body shot.
Qasi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sheehy was well out of range. Poor timing from Qasi.
Sheehy throws a quick inside leg kick.
Qasi pivots, looking for a leg kick but Sheehy is out of range and Qasi settles back down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Qasi looks to score with a jab to the body but Sheehy is just out of range.
Sheehy looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Sheehy lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Qasi has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Qasi and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Qasi looks to land a combination but Sheehy avoids it well.
Sheehy tries to land a leg kick but Qasi saw it coming and moves away.
Sheehy is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Qasi.
Qasi takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Sheehy punishes Qasi's body with a nice straight punch.
Qasi scores with a hook to the body. Sheehy takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Sheehy throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Sheehy scores with a shot to the body.
Qasi blocks a leg kick.
Qasi scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Sheehy just misses with a punch to the body.
Sheehy takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sheehy cracks the inside of Qasi's front leg.
Qasi throws a head kick that misses
and Sheehy makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Azar Qasi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sheehy uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Qasi.
Sheehy wants to slow Qasi down by chopping away at his legs.
Qasi throws an overhand right that lands on Sheehy's shoulder, as Sheehy tries to avoid the shot.
Qasi takes a swing at Sheehy's ribcage but misses.
Sheehy lands with a kick to the ribs.
Qasi swings for the body but Sheehy moves out of range.

Qasi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sheehy jumps guard but Qasi stands there with Sheehy around his waist. Sheehy gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Qasi misses with a punch to the body.
Qasi throws a punch but it's blocked by Sheehy.
A short left from Qasi.

Sheehy breaks the clinch.
Qasi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Qasi wants to land a leg kick but Sheehy is out of range.
Sheehy doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

Sheehy tries to keep at a distance but Qasi has taken the fight into the clinch.
Qasi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheehy jumps guard but Qasi stands there with Sheehy around his waist. Sheehy gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Sheehy fails to pull guard.
Azar Qasi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ethan Sheehy.
Qasi misses with a punch to the body.
Qasi is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Sheehy doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sheehy is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sheehy.
Qasi tries a body shot but Sheehy blocks it.
Qasi is working Sheehy over against the cage.
Qasi softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Qasi takes a shot to the head.
Qasi lands a body shot.
Sheehy tries to pull guard but Qasi won't allow it.
Sheehy tries to pull guard but Qasi forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Sheehy throws a head punch that misses.
Qasi lands with a short shot to the head.
Qasi lands with a right to the head.
Sheehy blocks a body shot from Qasi.
A head punch on the inside from Qasi fails to land.
Qasi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sheehy blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sheehy misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sheehy lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Qasi lands a body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A short left from Qasi.
Qasi misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Sheehy decides to pull guard.

Sheehy throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Qasi escapes and throws Sheehy's legs to the side, diving into side control!

Qasi is trying to get an arm triangle but Sheehy is defending well.
Qasi will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Sheehy is trying to get back to half guard.
Sheehy is letting Qasi control him for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Azar Qasi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ethan Sheehy's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
The crowd cheers as Qasi lands an impressive looking overhand right. Sheehy doesn't seem phased though.
Sheehy moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Qasi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sheehy moves away from the strike by Qasi.
Qasi scores with a kick to the midsection.
Qasi throws a body kick that misses.
Qasi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sheehy can do to turn this around?
Sheehy swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Qasi counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Qasi thows a body kick. Sheehy tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Sheehy misses with a looping right.
Sheehy goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Sheehy misses with a wild body shot.
Qasi wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Qasi moves out of range as Sheehy throws a body kick.
Nice defenses there by Sheehy.
A punch lands to the side of Sheehy 's head but he takes it in his stride.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sheehy bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Qasi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sheehy takes one to the side of the head.
Qasi finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Sheehy wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Sheehy gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Qasi.
Qasi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sheehy was well out of range. Poor timing from Qasi.
Sheehy tries to counter with a clinch but Qasi shakes him off and moves away.
Qasi slips a straight right by Sheehy.
Qasi swings for the body but Sheehy moves out of range.
Sheehy ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Qasi moves away.
Sheehy stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A slow jab from Qasi misses its intended target.
Sheehy throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Qasi on the side of the head.
Qasi with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Qasi has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Sheehy.
Azar Qasi is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Qasi tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Sheehy is able to avoid easily.
Sheehy keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
It seemed like Sheehy was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A telegraphed right hand from Qasi misses the target.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Qasi checks a leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Sheehy.
Qasi defending well as Sheehy loads up on a big left hand.
Qasi misses with a body kick.
Qasi is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Sheehy feints a jab promting Qasi to slip. Sheehy then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Qasi slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Sheehy takes one to the chin there.
Qasi lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Qasi lands with an overhand left.
Qasi is looking to slow Sheehy down with leg kicks.
Sheehy lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Sheehy slips under a jab from Qasi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Qasi as he connects with a hook.
Sheehy blocks a jab.
Nice straight punches there by Qasi. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Qasi.
Qasi lands a head shot.
Sheehy tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Sheehy works the jab nicely.
Qasi misses with a body kick.
Sheehy keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Qasi.
Sheehy takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Sheehy scores with a nice right hand.
Qasi throws a leg kick but Sheehy sees it coming and moves out of range.
Qasi takes a swing at Sheehy's ribcage but misses.
Sheehy throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sheehy fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Qasi manages to avoid it.
Qasi looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Qasi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sheehy misses with a wild combination.
Good work by Qasi as he checks the leg kick.
Qasi swings for the body but Sheehy moves out of range.
Sheehy paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Sheehy fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Qasi.
Qasi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sheehy moves away.
Sheehy motions for Qasi to come forward. Sheehy throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Qasi shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Sheehy now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Sheehy throws a half hearted mid kick.
Sheehy stuns Qasi with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Qasi throws a body punch but Sheehy moves out of range.
Sheehy is looking to chop away at Qasi's legs.
Sheehy has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Sheehy there as he acknowledges the shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Qasi lands a front kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Azar Qasi dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ethan Sheehy's cut.
That's time! Qasi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sheehy looks to score with a jab to the body but Qasi is just out of range.
Qasi misses with a body kick.
Sheehy is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
A solid leg kick lands there for Sheehy.
Qasi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sheehy sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Qasi avoids a kick to the body.
Qasi lands a slapping body shot.
Qasi misses with the combination.
Sheehy misses with an attempted mid kick.
Qasi misses the shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sheehy ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A solid leg kick lands there for Qasi.
Nice body punch from Qasi.
Qasi lands the left hand.
Sheehy misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sheehy defending well as Qasi loads up on a big left hand.
A head kick misses from Sheehy.
Qasi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Qasi throws a looping overhand right but Sheehy ducks down to avoid it.
Qasi tries a head kick but it misses.
Qasi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Qasi throws a shot to the body.
Qasi throws a right hand that misses
and Sheehy counters with a one-two to the body.
Sheehy throws out a loose jab but Qasi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sheehy lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Sheehy.
Qasi throws a lazy right hand but Sheehy sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sheehy takes a kick to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A lazy left from Sheehy finds it's target.
Some wild striking there from Sheehy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Qasi on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Sheehy scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Sheehy drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Good standup being displayed there by Qasi as he connects with a hook.

Sheehy takes the fight into the clinch.
Qasi pushes Sheehy back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Qasi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Sheehy.

Sheehy successfully pulls guard.
Sheehy keeping full guard, as Qasi tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Qasi is posturing up here but Sheehy has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Qasi tries to roll out but it's too tight and Qasi has to tap! Slick submission there by Sheehy!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ethan Sheehy!
Ethan Sheehy is the new lightweight champion!
A victorious Ethan Sheehy thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.