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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Anton Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zalmai Qazi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Qazi has chosen "Arab Americans" by Jim Johnston as his entrance music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!
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| 206 cm
22
140 lbs
1 - 2 - 0 |
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172 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 1 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily |
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BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Anton Pope!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Zalmai Qazi!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Dillan Fox and Alec Ball.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Qazi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Pope.
Qazi gets caught napping as Pope dives in and scores a takedown. Qazi manages to retain guard.
Pope will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Pope tries to stand but Qazi is controlling from the bottom.
Pope showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Pope seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Qazi for as long as he can get away with.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Qazi wants to sweep but no luck.
Qazi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Pope gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Pope really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Qazi trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope is stalling in the full guard.
Pope has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Anton Pope has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Qazi fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Pope, pushing him back against the cage.
Qazi is trying to push Pope away but Pope has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Qazi looks winded!
Pope pulls guard effortlessly.
Pope has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Qazi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Qazi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Pope is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Anton Pope has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Qazi moves into the clinch successfully.
Pope is working Qazi over against the cage.
Qazi tries to pull guard but Pope won't allow it.
Qazi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Pope just stands there and leans against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pope pulls guard.
Pope has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref stands the fighters back up. Anton Pope wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Qazi clinches up against the cage.
Qazi is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Anton Pope has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zalmai Qazi.
Pope digs a right hand into Qazi's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Qazi's gas tank.
Pope manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Pope managing to control the position.
Pope wants to stand up but Qazi is controlling him.
Qazi postures up in Pope's guard and throws a big left but Pope blocks it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pope wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
The ref stands the fighters back up because Anton Pope just wasn't active enough.
Pope clinches.
Pope decides to pull guard.
Pope is pulling down on Qazi's head to control his posture.
Qazi wants to control from the top but Pope keeps moving.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pope is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
We've been informed that Qazi has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Pope pulls Qazi in close to prevent any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pope keeping moving, preventing Qazi from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Anton Pope dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.
Qazi shoots for a takedown but Pope saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Pope smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Qazi tries to score a power double leg takedown but Pope sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Qazi somewhat.
Pope looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Pope trying to control the pace.
Pope is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Qazi is breathing heavily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
The ref stands the fighters back up because Anton Pope just wasn't active enough.
Pope jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Qazi forces Pope back against the cage and clinches.
Pope gets control of Qazi's arms and successfully pulls guard. Pope will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Pope seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Qazi stopping the sweep attempt from Pope.
Pope is working hard here to advance position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Qazi postures up in Pope's guard and throws a big left but Pope blocks it.
Pope has control of Qazi's left arm, preventing Qazi from doing any damage.
Pope looking for a guillotine here but Qazi defends easily.
Qazi trying to control the position from guard on top but Pope is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pope managing to control the position.
Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Qazi clinches up with Pope and pushes him back against the cage.
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!
Pope successfully pulls guard.
Qazi trying to control the position from guard on top but Pope is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Qazi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Qazi postures up and lands a big shot to Pope's brow.
Qazi preventing the sweep.
Pope pulls Qazi in close to his closed guard and prevents Qazi from doing any damage or advancing position.
Qazi lands a couple of digs.
Qazi trying to control but Pope is working from the bottom.
Pope pulls Qazi in to control the position.
Qazi stopping the sweep attempt from Pope.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Pope looking for a guillotine here but Qazi defends easily.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pope seems keen to control Qazi's posture.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Qazi moves into the clinch.
Pope is pressed up against the cage. Qazi has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Pope down to the mat. Pope avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Anton Pope has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zalmai Qazi.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pope scores with a decent looking hook.
Pope fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Qazi to the ground. Pope is now in Qazi's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Qazi being controlled here, momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Anton Pope dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!
A big left from Pope misses.
Qazi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Qazi moves into the clinch.
Pope is pressed up against the cage. Qazi has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Pope down to the mat. Pope avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Qazi shoots in for a takedown but Pope shows good takedown defense.
Anton Pope has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zalmai Qazi.
Pope fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Pope closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Qazi being controlled for a moment.
Pope thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope controlling the position.
Pope has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pope stands up and beckons Qazi to his feet.
Pope shoots in and gets a takedown into Qazi's guard.
Pope is stalling in the full guard.
Pope's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
The ref stands the fighters back up because Anton Pope just wasn't active enough.
Qazi moves into the clinch successfully.
A short right from Pope.
Qazi can't get the takedown.
Qazi tries to pull guard but Pope forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Pope tightens his grip and picks Qazi up, before dumping him to the ground. Qazi manages to land in guard.
Pope content to stall in guard here.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pope stops Qazi from standing up.
Pope controlling from the top position.
Zalmai Qazi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
The ref stands the fighters back up. Anton Pope wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Qazi moves into range and clinches up with Pope.
Anton Pope is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Qazi can't break the clinch.
And that's the end of the fight!
Anton Pope showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Pope, 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anton Pope!
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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
51% |
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