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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Azar Qasi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frankie Drake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Qasi comes into the arena with For Whom The Bell Tolls blaring out of the sound system. Azar Qasi had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business
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| 180 cm
23
166 lbs
11 - 4 - 0 |
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166 cm
28
160 lbs
16 - 3 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Azar Qasi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
16 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Frankie Drake!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Chris Downing and Tiny Johnson.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Qasi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Drake.
Qasi was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Qasi throws an overhand right that lands on Drake's shoulder, as Drake tries to avoid the shot.
A slapping body kick lands there for Drake.
Drake looks to score with a jab to the body but Qasi is just out of range.
Qasi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Qasi misses with a punch on the inside.
Qasi struggles to land a body shot inside as Drake controls his hands.
Qasi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Qasi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Qasi lands with a hook. Drake tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Qasi circles away from the clinch attempt
and Qasi counters with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drake motions for Qasi to come forward. Drake throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Drake takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Qasi feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Drakes jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Azar Qasi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Qasi misses with a straight right.
Qasi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Qasi manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Drake on his heels. He'll look to pass Drake's guard now, I'm sure.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Qasi tries to free his leg and advance position but Drake is retaining full guard.
Drake working a defensive guard here.
Qasi will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Qasi trying to control but Drake is working from the bottom.
Drake trying to control the position here.
Qasi looking to pass the guard.
Drake has his foot on Qasi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Qasi works his way back into a safe position though.
Qasi tries to free his leg and advance position but Drake is retaining full guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Drake pulls Qasi in close to his closed guard and prevents Qasi from doing any damage or advancing position.
Drake has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at UHK, Inc.. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Drake is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Qasi is aware though and is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Drake has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Qasi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Drake working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Qasi.
Qasi drops back looking for a leg! Drake is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Drake manages to kick Qasi off! Qasi jumps back into Drake's guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Drake keeping moving, preventing Qasi from controlling successfully.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake has Qasi pulled in close to control his posture.
Qasi is pushing down on Drake's leg trying to pass to half guard. Drake is fighting to maintain full guard but Qasi has managed to sneak the leg through.
Drake looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Qasi is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Drake is just riding it out for now. Qasi eventually gives up the hold.
Qasi is trying to work for a kimura but Drake is defending well.
Drake wants to control but Qasi is keeping busy and won't allow it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Drake wants to get back to full guard.
Qasi wants to work for an arm triangle but Drake is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Drake trying to control here.
Qasi is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Drake keeping full guard, as Qasi tries to pass.
Drake can't keep his opponent in guard - Qasi advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Qasi is trying to work for a kimura but Drake is defending well.
Drake trying to control but Qasi postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Azar Qasi dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
Drake tries to close the distance and clinch up but Qasi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Drake tries for a takedown but Qasi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Qasi scores with a jab to the jaw.
Qasi scores with a nice head shot.
Qasi feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Drakes jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Qasi is looking to clinch.
Drake tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Qasi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Qasi gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Qasi swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Qasi lands a left hand that snaps the head of Drake backwards.
Qasi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A right handed body shot lands from Drake.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Drake.
Drake stops a takedown attempt from Qasi.
Drake doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nice body punch from Drake - that landed with a thud.
Drake jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Qasi walks away with a smile on his face. Drake gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Drake throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Qasi swats away the attempt to clinch by Drake.
Qasi throws a hook to the side of Drake's head but Drake sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Qasi swats away the attempt to clinch by Drake.
Qasi was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Drake gets caught flat footed, as Qasi shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Qasi postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Drake is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Qasi, into his guard.
Drake trying to control but Qasi is working from the bottom.
Drake pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Qasi is keeping the position for now.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Qasi trying to keep a closed guard but Drake is proving a slippery customer.
Drake distracts Qasi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Drake tries to free his leg and advance position but Qasi is retaining full guard.
Qasi is looking for a triangle here but Drake uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Qasi is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Drake working the body and head with strikes.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Drake thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Qasi is not content to let Drake control the position.
Qasi sneaks back into half guard.
Qasi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Qasi wants to improve his position but Drake is controlling well.
Drake is trying to work for a kimura but Qasi is defending well.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drake lands strikes from half guard.
Qasi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Drake prevents Qasi from improving his position.
Qasi manages to get to full guard.
Drake with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Drake avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Azar Qasi dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!
Drake swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Drake misses with a straight right.
Qasi comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Qasi cracks a nice hook into Drake's ribs.
Qasi is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Qasi tries to clinch there but Drake circles away.
Drake will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Azar Qasi is winning the standup battle so far.
Qasi lands with a nice body punch.
Drake scores with a takedown into Qasi's guard.
Drake forces his way into half guard.
Drake is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Qasi wants to control but Drake is keeping busy.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Drake scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Qasi wants to control but Drake is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Qasi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Qasi blocking the ground and pound attempt from Drake.
Drake has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Qasi is in all sorts of trouble here.
Qasi tries to lock up and control but Drake gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Qasi can't escape the position.
Drake lands with some strikes.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drake prevents Qasi from getting the reversal.
Drake breaks from Qasi's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Drake is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Qasi can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Qasi is in all sorts of trouble here.
Qasi wants to control but Drake is having none of it.
Drake sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The referee warns Qasi that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Qasi tries to reverse the position but Drake maintains control.
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!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drake lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Drake is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Qasi can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Qasi is trying desperately to improve position.
Qasi regains half guard.
Qasi actively working from the bottom here.
Drake trying to control from half guard but Qasi is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Qasi tries to get to full guard but Drake has control of the leg.
Qasi trying to control here.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Qasi is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Drake pulls his head out easily.
Frankie Drake has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Qasi tries to roll over but Drake keeps him under control.
Drake throwing shots but Qasi is blocking nicely.
Frankie Drake has got the better of the ground game so far.
Drake slips a nice elbow through Qasi's hands, connecting with Qasi's forehead.
Drake has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Qasi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Drake winds up and cracks Qasi with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Azar Qasi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Qasi is looking for a sweep. Drake is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Drake moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Qasi.
And that's the end of the fight!
Frankie Drake comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Qasi 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Azar Qasi!
Azar Qasi seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
36% |
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