PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sam Peterson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mohammed Qissi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Peterson
vs
Qissi

196 cm
25
205 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

188 cm
26
210 lbs
1 - 4 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sam Peterson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mohammed Qissi!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Dmitry Maklakov and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Peterson fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Peterson fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Qissi is out of range.
Qissi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Peterson misses with a double jab.
Qissi steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Peterson.
Peterson feints a jab promting Qissi to slip. Peterson then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Qissi slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Peterson attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Peterson lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Peterson.
Peterson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Qissi is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Peterson's half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Qissi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Peterson's coaches at The SkrapBox have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Qissi tries to pass the half guard into mount. Peterson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Peterson pushes Qissi off looking to stand but Qissi dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Peterson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Qissi.

Qissi looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Qissi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Peterson's head.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Qissi working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Qissi in particular looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Peterson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Qissi.
Qissi is pressing down on Peterson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Peterson is holding on for now.
Qissi performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Qissi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Peterson keeps working.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Peterson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Qissi throws a nice looking combination but Peterson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Qissi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Peterson circles away.
Qissi dodges the punch combination from Peterson.
Qissi shoots in looking for a takedown but Peterson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Qissi's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sam Peterson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mohammed Qissi.
Peterson throws a body shot but no joy.
Qissi is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Peterson.

Qissi scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Peterson is trying to stand back up but Qissi is controlling him
Peterson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Qissi on the ground.
Qissi controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Qissi throwing shots but Peterson is blocking nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Qissi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Peterson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Qissi looks for a takedown but Peterson sprawls well.
Peterson throws a series of punches but Qissi avoids them all with ease.
Qissi shoots for a double leg takedown but Peterson sprawls well. He's pushed Qissi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Qissi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Qissi avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Peterson connects with a crisp jab.
Peterson circles away from the clinch attempt
and Peterson counters with a left and a right that stings Qissi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Qissi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Peterson pinned against the cage. Peterson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sam Peterson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mohammed Qissi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Peterson misses with a low kick.
Peterson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sam Peterson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Peterson tried to score with a low kick but Qissi checks it.

Qissi gets a clinch.

Qissi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Peterson throws a body shot but no joy.
Qissi looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Qissi changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Peterson tries to avoid it but Qissi manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Peterson to the ground. Peterson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Qissi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Peterson pinned against the cage. Peterson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Peterson thuds a left hand into Qissi's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Qissi misses with a body shot.
Sam Peterson is winning the standup battle so far.
Peterson throws a head kick but Qissi moves out of range.
Peterson looks to land a combination but Qissi avoids it well.
Qissi lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Peterson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Qissi closes the distance and clinches.

Qissi jumps guard and drags Peterson to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Qissi is pulling down on Peterson's head. It's preventing any offense from Peterson, at least for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Peterson gets to his feet - Qissi follows without any prompting.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Peterson 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.
Peterson with a jab.
Peterson blocks a head kick by Qissi.

Qissi feints and as Peterson raises his hands in defense, Qissi changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Peterson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Qissi looking to pass the guard.
Qissi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Qissi is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Qissi's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Qissi is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Peterson throws a right hand that Qissi ducks under and follows up with a left that Qissi also avoids with ease.
Peterson misses with a series of wild punches.
Peterson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Qissi can do to turn this around?
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Peterson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Peterson misses with a body shot.
Peterson throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Peterson dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Peterson misses with a few strikes there.
Qissi closes the distance and clinches up with Peterson, looking for a takedown. Qissi pushes Peterson against the cage but Peterson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Peterson fails to land with a series of punches.
Peterson misses with a few strikes there.
Peterson throws a nice looking combination but Qissi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Peterson fails to land with a series of punches.
It seemed like Qissi was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Qissi stalks Peterson and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Peterson's face. Peterson staggers backwards, shaken.
Qissi moves out of range as Peterson throws a body kick.
Qissi doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Qissi slips a jab and a cross from Peterson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Qissi clinches with his opponent.
A frustrated look appears on Peterson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Qissi scores with a nice short uppercut.
Qissi is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Peterson to keep the fight standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Qissi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Peterson misses with the combination.
Peterson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Qissi blocks a head kick by Peterson.
Peterson throws a right hand that Qissi ducks under and follows up with a left that Qissi also avoids with ease.
Qissi is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Peterson with a body shot.
Qissi dives in and grabs Peterson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Peterson pushes down on Qissi's head and hops out.
Sam Peterson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mohammed Qissi.
Qissi shoots in for a double leg but Peterson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sam Peterson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Peterson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Qissi fails with an attempt to clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Qissi prevents Peterson from breaking the clinch.

Qissi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Peterson looks to land a combination but Qissi avoids it well.
Peterson lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
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!
Peterson misses with a series of wild punches.
Qissi shoots for a double leg takedown but Peterson sprawls well. He's pushed Qissi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Peterson throws a solid leg kick but Qissi takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Peterson.
Peterson looks to score with a jab to the body but Qissi is just out of range.
Peterson sizes up Qissi with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Sam Peterson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Peterson keeps Qissi at a distance using the push kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Qissi clinches up with Peterson and pushes him back against the cage.
Qissi throws an elbow but it misses.

Qissi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Qissi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Peterson is looking to land body kicks.
Qissi slips a jab and a cross from Peterson.
Peterson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Qissi counters with a two punch combo.
Peterson slaps away a takedown attempt from Qissi, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Qissi fails in his attempt to clinch.

Qissi looking to score a takedown here. Peterson is defending well but Qissi drives through and ends up in Peterson's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Qissi throws a big elbow that misses.
Qissi is looking to work some ground and pound but Peterson has wrist control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Qissi seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Mohammed Qissi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Qissi drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Qissi jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Peterson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Peterson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight for Sam Peterson!
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight for Sam Peterson!
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight for Sam Peterson!

Sam Peterson wins by unanimous decision!