PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Zalmai Qazi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chuck Harrison (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Qazi's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, "Arab Americans" by Jim Johnston. Harrison comes into a darkened arena with his song building. The Warrior Song kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Zalmai Qazi looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Qazi
vs
Harrison

172 cm
29
130 lbs
0 - 15 - 0

150 cm
26
130 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 0 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Zalmai Qazi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Chuck Harrison!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Trevor Gratis and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Qazi tries to clinch but Harrison is having none of it.
Despite the aggression on Harrison's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Qazi looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Qazi tries to clinch up.
As Qazi backs off Harrison throws a huge counter combo but Qazi manages to avoid it all.
Qazi wants to clinch.
Harrison changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Qazi shoots in but no luck this time.
Harrison tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Qazi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Qazi tries to clinch there but Harrison circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Qazi wants to clinch up but Harrison keeps it at a distance.
And Harrison tries to counter it with a takedown but Qazi pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Qazi shoots in looking for a takedown. Harrison tries to sprawl out of it but Qazi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Harrison manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Qazi doesn't manage to clinch there - Harrison circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Qazi doesn't manage to clinch there - Harrison circles away.
Qazi wants to clinch up but Harrison keeps it at a distance.
Harrison with the counter takedown but Qazi avoids it easily.
Qazi tries to clinch there but Harrison circles away.
Qazi darts in trying to clinch

and Harrison counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Harrison should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Harrison forces his way into half guard.

Harrison 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.
Qazi keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harrison not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Harrison missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Harrison winds up and cracks Qazi with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Harrison is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Harrison is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harrison seems to be working for a kimura but Qazi defends the submission attempt.
Harrison throwing shots but Qazi is blocking nicely.

Harrison 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four 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.

Harrison is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Harrison is working for a kimura but Qazi is defending it quite comfortably.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chuck Harrison dominated that round.
That's time! Qazi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Qazi fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Harrison, pushing him back against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Harrison breaks the clinch.
Harrison keeps the fight on the outside.
Qazi is looking to clinch but Harrison is avoiding it.
Qazi wants to clinch.
Harrison tries to counter with a clinch but Qazi shakes him off and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Qazi wants to clinch up but Harrison keeps it at a distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Qazi tries to clinch but Harrison is having none of it.
And Harrison tries to counter it with a takedown but Qazi pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Chuck Harrison is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Qazi is looking to clinch.
As Qazi backs off Harrison throws a huge counter combo but Qazi manages to avoid it all.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Qazi tries to close the distance and clinch but Harrison swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Qazi tries to clinch but Harrison moves out of range.
Harrison changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Qazi tries to clinch up.
Qazi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Qazi wants to clinch.
Harrison is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Qazi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Harrison sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Qazi shoots in but Harrison avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Harrison wants to counter with a clinch but Qazi pushes him away.
Qazi wants to clinch.
Harrison appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Qazi moves in looking to clinch but Harrison pushes him off.
Qazi wants to clinch up but Harrison keeps it at a distance.
Harrison swats away the attempt to clinch by Qazi.
Harrison tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Harrison has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Harrison keeps the fight on the outside.
Harrison tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Zalmai Qazi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Qazi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Harrison tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Qazi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Harrison wants to counter the offense by Qazi and move into the clinch position.
Harrison keeps the fight on the outside.
Harrison is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Qazi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Harrison manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Qazi wants to clinch up but Harrison keeps it at a distance.
Qazi wants to clinch.
As Qazi backs off Harrison throws a huge counter combo but Qazi manages to avoid it all.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harrison swats away the attempt to clinch by Qazi.
Qazi tries to clinch but Harrison moves away

and Harrison counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Harrison is looking to work some ground and pound but Qazi has wrist control.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Harrison's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Harrison lands a couple of elbows.
Harrison really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Qazi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Harrison in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Harrison working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Harrison stands and throws Qazi's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harrison in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Harrison working the ground and pound.

Harrison is trying to get an arm triangle but Qazi is defending well.
Qazi managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Harrison.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Harrison creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Harrison is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Qazi knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chuck Harrison showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Harrison avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Qazi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Harrison appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Qazi moves in looking to clinch but Harrison pushes him off.
Qazi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Harrison swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Harrison now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Qazi tries to clinch but Harrison moves out of range.
Harrison appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Qazi is looking to clinch.
Qazi is looking to clinch.
Qazi moves to clinch but Harrison breaks away

and Harrison counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harrison seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Harrison lands strikes from half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Harrison lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Harrison is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Qazi has managed to free his arm - good work.
Qazi keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Harrison is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Qazi defends it well.

Harrison is looking for a kimura here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Harrison is pressing down on Qazi's thigh, looking to free his foot. Qazi is holding on for now.
Harrison working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Harrison is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Qazi has managed to free his arm - good work.
Qazi keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Chuck Harrison has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harrison not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Harrison trying to pass the guard but Qazi defending well.
Harrison sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Qazi defending well though.
Qazi keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Harrison connects with a nice short shot to Qazi's temple.

Harrison is looking for a kimura but Qazi is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Harrison to get the leverage.
Harrison thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Harrison drops an elbow to the side of Qazi's head.

Harrison is trying to work for a kimura but Qazi is defending well.
Ground and pound from Harrison.
Zalmai Qazi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Harrison wants to free his trapped foot but Qazi is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Harrison is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Qazi defends it well.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Harrison avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Harrison is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Qazi with a body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chuck Harrison comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Harrison winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 24:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 24:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chuck Harrison!
An out of breath Chuck Harrison thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.