PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Quessy (ranked 2517 p4p, 3383 weight class) and Ri Zaadha (ranked 344 p4p, 416 weight class). Quessy's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, NTM - Ma Benz. Zaadha has chosen HonestKey- When I Wake Up as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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.

Quessy
vs
Zaadha

180 cm
30
176
10 - 10 - 0

189 cm
44
177
39 - 34 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Honest Apparel ($30 SPECIAL ALL Shorts!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Thomas Quessy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 39 - 34 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Ri Zaadha!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Quessy instigates a clinch.
Quessy dodges an elbow strike from Zaadha.
Zaadha can't find room to land a body shot as Quessy controls the action.
Quessy is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Quessy digs a right hand into Zaadha's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Zaadha's gas tank.

Quessy pulls guard.
Zaadha is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Quessy is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Zaadha is aware though and is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zaadha gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Zaadha throws a shot from downtown. Quessy moves away and avoids it.
Good standup being displayed there by Quessy as he connects with a hook.
Zaadha takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Quessy misses with a body shot.
Zaadha pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A jab from Zaadha misses.
Quessy attempts a counter takedown but Zaadha avoids it well and moves away.
Quessy gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Zaadha jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Quessy feinted with a counter takedown.
Zaadha throws a leg kick but Quessy sees it coming and moves out of range.
Quessy takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Quessy throws a body shot but no joy.
Quessy misses with a jab to the body
and Zaadha counters with a left to the body.
Zaadha waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Quessy.
Quessy moves out of range as Zaadha strikes.
Zaadha connects with a body shot.
Quessy throws the left hand but Zaadha avoids the punch easily.
Quessy scores with a nice head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Quessy lands a body shot.
Quessy takes a body punch but keeps moving.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Good leg kick by Zaadha.
Quessy misses the shot to the body.
Quessy defending well as Zaadha loads up on a big left hand.
Quessy scores with a decent looking hook.
Quessy slips under a jab.
Quessy takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Zaadha keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Quessy throws a body punch but Zaadha moves out of range.
Zaadha fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Quessy manages to avoid it.
Zaadha swings for the body but Quessy moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Quessy tries to clinch there but Zaadha circles away.

Zaadha gets caught flat footed, as Quessy shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Zaadha is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Quessy presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Zaadha manages to break the clinch.
Quessy loads up on a big right hand but Zaadha slips the punch.
Quessy ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zaadha moves away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Quessy.
A nice side step and Zaadha releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Quessy shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Zaadha as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Quessy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Quessy fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zaadha manages to avoid it.
Nice body punch from Zaadha.
The fighters circling - Zaadha throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Zaadha looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zaadha throws the left hand but Quessy avoids the punch easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Quessy looks to score with a jab to the body but Zaadha is just out of range.
Quessy slips under a jab.
Zaadha stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Zaadha wants it to stay on the feet.
Zaadha feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Quessys jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Quessy swings for the body but Zaadha moves out of range.
Quessy misses with a looping right.
Zaadha lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Quessy scores with a jab to the head.
Zaadha waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Quessy.
Zaadha looks to throw the jab but Quessy is out of range.
Ri Zaadha is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zaadha misses with a looping left.
Quessy drops down looking for a counter takedown but Zaadha sprawls and moves away.
Quessy throws a jab but it's blocked by Zaadha.
A little jabbing left from Zaadha on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Quessy displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zaadha throws out the jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ri Zaadha dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Zaadha stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Zaadha wants it to stay on the feet.
Zaadha misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Zaadha throws a leg kick but Quessy sees it coming and moves out of range.
Quessy scores with a jab to the head.
Zaadha pivots, looking for a leg kick but Quessy is out of range and Zaadha settles back down.
Zaadha throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zaadha walks into a jab.
Quessy misses with a body shot.
Zaadha misses with an attempted mid kick.
Quessy changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Quessy connects with the punch.
Quessy jabs at Zaadha's body.
Quessy misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zaadha.
Quessy with a hook.
Quessy takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Zaadha.
Zaadha slips under a jab from Quessy.
Quessy lands with a good body shot.
Zaadha uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Quessy has time to react.

Quessy drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Zaadha is looking to regain half guard here but Quessy keeps moving and retains side control.
Zaadha is trying to control Quessy's posture but Quessy avoids it.
Quessy working the ground and pound.

Quessy is trying to get an arm triangle but Zaadha is defending well.
Zaadha is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Quessy's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Quessy is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Quessy is looking for a kimura but Zaadha is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Quessy to get the leverage.
Thomas Quessy overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Quessy trying to control the action but Zaadha is working from the bottom.

Quessy is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Zaadha sees it coming and defends easily.
Quessy not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Quessy throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Zaadha is trying to maintain the position but Quessy is very close to passing his half guard.
Zaadha controlling the position well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaadha is looking to improve his position.
Quessy passes the guard and advances to mount!
Zaadha is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Quessy avoids the attempt from Zaadha to control.
The referee warns Zaadha that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Quessy punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Quessy landing strikes from the mount and Zaadha is in trouble!
Quessy lands a big elbow.
Quessy raining down shots from the mount!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A nice elbow there by Quessy.
BOOM! Quessy connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Quessy throws some wild stikes that Zaadha manages to avoid easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Quessy pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Quessy thowing shots but they're missing.
Quessy prevents Zaadha from getting the reversal.
Quessy pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Quessy working the ground and pound effectively.
Quessy throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Quessy dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Zaadha misses with a straight right.
Quessy loads up on a big right hand but Zaadha slips the punch.
It looks like Quessy has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Quessy shoots in looking for a takedown but Zaadha manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Quessy's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Zaadha misses with a wild body shot.
Zaadha misses the shot to the body.

Zaadha gets caught flat footed, as Quessy shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Quessy accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Quessy is in close to Zaadha's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Quessy scoring with some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Quessy with a flurry of punches that miss.
Quessy preventing the sweep.
Zaadha controls Quessy momentarily but Quessy frees himself.
Quessy wants to pass the guard but Zaadha is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaadha wants to sweep here but Quessy controlling him for the moment.
Zaadha keeping moving, preventing Quessy from controlling successfully.
Zaadha controlling Quessy's posture.
Zaadha's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Quessy preventing the sweep.
Quessy trying to control but Zaadha is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

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.

Quessy shoots in and gets a takedown into Zaadha's guard.
Quessy throws a big elbow that misses.
Quessy postures up.
Quessy chips away with some ground and pound.
Zaadha working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Quessy.
Zaadha has his hands on Quessy's head, controlling the position.
Quessy trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Quessy wants to control from the top but Zaadha keeps moving.
Zaadha pulls Quessy in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaadha controls Quessy momentarily but Quessy frees himself.
Quessy in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Quessy wants to control from the top but Zaadha keeps moving.
Quessy chips away with some ground and pound.
Quessy passes Zaadha's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Quessy slips a nice elbow through Zaadha's hands, connecting with Zaadha's forehead.
Zaadha trying to hold on to Quessy's head to control him but Quessy postures up.

Quessy is working for a kimura but Zaadha is defending it quite comfortably.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Quessy sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Zaadha defending well though.
Quessy wants to pass to mount but Zaadha is defending the position.
Zaadha is looking to control Quessy's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Zaadha avoid being mounted?
Zaadha is looking to escape.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zaadha is looking to control Quessy's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Zaadha avoid being mounted?
Quessy scoring with strikes to the body and head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Quessy showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Quessy 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Quessy!
After winning the bout, Thomas Quessy thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
Ri Zaadha spoke after the fight, saying 'After all my years in this sport, this is the hardest day for me, the day I must announce my retirement... I can no longer physically keep up with the rest of the roster. I appreciate everything everyone has done for me, I love you all! Best of luck to everyone!'.