PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kirk Boon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Azar Qasi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Boon kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is American Ninja 2 OST - Truckin'. Qasi has chosen For Whom The Bell Tolls as his entrance music. Azar Qasi will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Boon
vs
Qasi

150 cm
41
130 lbs
24 - 26 - 0

180 cm
22
166 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

GREEN!160
Bullet Proof System

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 24 - 26 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kirk Boon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Azar Qasi!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Chris Downing and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boon dives in for a single leg takedown but Qasi sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Qasi sizes up Boon with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Qasi uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
We've been hearing reports that Boon has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Qasi scores with a jab to the head.
Boon shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Qasi as he jumps to the side.

Boon gets the takedown into side control.
Qasi sneaks back into half guard.
Qasi tries to get to full guard but Boon has control of the leg.
Qasi is trying to control but can't.

Boon is working for a submission of some sort.

Boon 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.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Boon seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Qasi is looking for a sweep. Boon is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Boon is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Qasi is pressing down on Boon's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Boon won't allow Qasi to sweep him here.

Boon is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Boon drops back, looking for a kneebar! Qasi looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Qasi looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Qasi!

Boon is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Qasi's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Boon is looking to get back to full guard here but Qasi has managed to pass to side control instead.
Boon is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boon manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Qasi trying to pass the guard but Boon defending well.

Qasi is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Boon has managed to free his arm - good work.

Boon looking for submissions off his back.
Qasi wants to free his trapped foot but Boon is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Qasi is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Boon sees it coming and defends easily.

Boon looking for a kimura from the bottom but Qasi passes into side control!

Qasi thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Qasi is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Boon is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boon regains half guard.
Boon tries to get to full guard but Qasi has control of the leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

Qasi seems to be looking for submissions.

Qasi is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Boon defends it well.
Boon wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Boon is in trouble now - Qasi has advanced to mount!
Qasi is trying to take his opponent's back.

Qasi is working for a guillotine from mount but Boon frees his head quite easily.
Boon is squirming around, avoiding Qasi's attempts to control the action.
Boon really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Boon sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Qasi moves into full mount! Boon won't be happy about that!
Boon is trying to escape the mount.
Boon is working hard here to advance position.
Boon avoids a series of strikes thrown by Qasi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Azar Qasi dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Boon tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Qasi defends well and Boon ends up having to push Qasi into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Qasi lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Boon backs up against the cage.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Qasi.
Qasi is looking to take a break and control but Boon is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Boon gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Qasi prevents Boon from getting the reversal.

Qasi has control of Boon's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Boon regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Qasi has hold of Boon's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Boon manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Boon is in all sorts of trouble here.
Boon is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Qasi is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Boon has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Boon regains half guard.

Boon actively working from the bottom here.

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

Qasi is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Boon sees it coming and defends easily.

Boon looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Boon actively working from the bottom here.

Qasi is working for a kimura but Boon is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Boon looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Qasi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Boon actively working from the bottom here.

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

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

Qasi wants to work for an arm triangle but Boon is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Boon looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Qasi is looking for a kimura but Boon is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Qasi to get the leverage.
Boon might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Boon is defending against the submission attempts here by Qasi.
Qasi is looking to take a break and control but Boon is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Qasi is looking for a kimura here.
Boon tries to roll over but Qasi keeps him under control.

Boon is defending against the submission attempts here by Qasi.

Qasi is working for a kimura but Boon is defending it quite comfortably.

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.
Qasi uses his free foot to push down on Boon's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Boon.
Qasi fails to take his opponent's back.
Boon gets back to half guard.
Boon works his way to full guard. Good work.

Boon is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Qasi defends well.

Boon throws his legs up looking for a submission but Qasi uses it to pass to side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Qasi is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Boon has escaped the position, nice work there.
Boon gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Azar Qasi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Boon fails with the takedown
and Qasi counters with a stiff right hand.
Azar Qasi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Boon dives in and grabs Qasi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Qasi pushes down on Boon's head and hops out.
Qasi is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Qasi. Boon does a little dance to reset his feet.
Qasi scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Qasi is a very stocky fighter. Infact he's such a weird shape that he's almost like some sort of comedy character - it's hard to believe he's real.
Boon looks for a takedown but Qasi sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kirk Boon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Qasi scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Boon tries to sprawl but Qasi drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Boon is defending against the submission attempts here by Qasi.
Boon is looking to improve his position.

Qasi seems to be working for a kimura but Boon defends the submission attempt.
Boon gets back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Boon 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.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Qasi drops back looking for a leg! Boon is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Boon manages to kick Qasi off! Qasi jumps back into Boon's guard.

Qasi thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Qasi is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Qasi stands and throws Boon's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Boon sneaks back into half guard.

Boon looking for subs from the bottom but Qasi mounts him!
Kirk Boon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Qasi jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Boon manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Boon is trying to work for a sweep but Qasi has mounted him!

Qasi looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Qasi has hold of Boon's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Boon manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Qasi with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Azar Qasi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Boon is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Qasi looking to secure an arm triangle but Boon defends it well.
Boon is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Qasi looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Boon sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Boon looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Qasi wants to take a breather but Boon is having none of it.

Boon actively working from the bottom here.

Qasi is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Boon has managed to free his arm - good work.

Qasi is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Qasi passes to side control.
Boon is looking to regain half guard here but Qasi keeps moving and retains side control.

Qasi working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Qasi tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Qasi has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Boon tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Azar Qasi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

And that's the end of the fight!
Azar Qasi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Qasi has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Azar Qasi!
Our winner, Azar Qasi, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.