At last it was time, A rematch 6 months in the making. The Golden Belt final between USKA's Qasim 'The Dream' Nisar and IFA's 'Razor' Rajesh Salan.
The venue was the C&B Cricket Club in Merseyside, Liverpool and the show again was promoted by Alby Bimpson from IKF and Golden Belt.

Both Qasim and Rajesh fought in the final of The Golden Belt elimination tournament at Liverpool Olympia in April earlier in the year and both reached the final with impressive victories only for their final bout to be cut short due to an ankle injury to Rajesh
sustained in the first round.

Read April's fight report here:

The bout was ruled a no contest and a rematch would have to be contested to decide who was going to be crowned 60kg Full Contact Golden Belt Champion.
Rumours were rife in the build up on if the growing Qasim would be able to make the 60kg weight limit but in true professional style Qas made weight two weeks before and was looking ripped weighing in a full KG under the limit at 59kg.
The shock for us was Rajesh who we had been told was struggling to get over 57kg let alone up to the 60kg limit weighed in heavier than Qasim at 59.5kg.
Word from both camps was that their fighters were sharp, at their peak and never looking better. With no real weight advantage to either fighter and both 100% fit there would be no excuses tonight. Both had been training for the last six weeks on a game plan to beat the other and it was now time to see which camp, coach and fighter had got it right.

On the undercard another USKA fighter and younger brother to Qasim, Noor Mohammed was matched against a local Liverpool lad in the form of 7 year old Dennis Morris from the Fast and Furious Kickboxing gym in Liverpool. This would be Noor's first evening show performance and it was going to be interesting to see if he would cope with big fight nerves as well as his older sibling.

As an added bonus 1 hour before the shows start we were asked if we had any fighters with us around the 52kg mark that would be prepared to step in at literally the last minute to face IFA's Rafaqit Ali who's opponent had not turned up.
The nearest we had to the weight was Jake 'Rattlesnake' Richards who after being told of the situation did not hesitate for a second in stepping up to the plate and the challenge in taking the fight. Now that's fighting spirit for you!

So with a team of three USKA fighters now competing it was time for the first to enter the ring to the a rapturous air horn welcome and usual USKA fanatic support.

3 x 1 minute rounds Light Continuous Kickboxing

Noor Mohammed (USKA) Vs Dennis Morris (Fast and Furious)

Fighters centre ring for referee's instructions and an obvious height advantage to Noor.

Round 1

First bell sounds and Noor strikes first landing a flush rear leg side kick to the chest that sends Dennis crashing down flat onto his back. Back on his feet and both shaken and stirred, Noor's kick seems to have taken all the confidence from Dennis and for a moment it is unsure if he wants to continue or not. After words of encouragement from his corner Dennis decides to carry on and the fight resumes.
Dennis is first to press the attack now ploughing forward with straight punches but Noor is matching him with the punches and adding kicks on top to make the difference.
Dennis is smothering his own work and not throwing any kicks but is applying good forward pressure. The round closes with Noor in front.

Round 2

The second round begins and as if it was an action replay of the first Noor lands another clean rear leg side kick to the chest of Dennis.
Dennis is again trying to go forward but this time he is being met by good punch / kick combinations from Noor coupled with controlled lateral movement.
With Noor kicking him on the turn Dennis has run out of ideas and seeing this Noor is growing in confidence, relaxing more and going through the gears with his offence.
The side kick is working well for him and Dennis is not really in the round at all.
The round ends and Dennis frustrated and outclassed makes his way back to the corner with his coach taking the compassionate act to pull his lad from the contest.
With the retirement from the red corner the decision and win was awarded to Noor signalling a successful evening show debut for the lightest member of the USKA fighting squad.

Next up it was time for Jake 'Stand In' Richards oops!, i mean Jake 'Rattlesnake' Richards to step into the ring to face a fighter in IFA's Rafaqit Ali who had been training specifically to fight on this evenings bill.

3 x 2 minute rounds Light Continuous Kickboxing

Jake 'Rattlesnake' Richards (USKA) Vs Rafaqit Ali (IFA)

A slight height and preparation advantage to Rafaqit and a weight advantage to Jake had the makings of a good fight writen all over it.
Jake although taking the fight at silly notice looked calm and cool at the centre ring square off and looked like he had got his head around the task and was up for action.

Round 1

A measured start from Jake knowing that he had 3 x 2 minute rounds in front of him.
Rafaqit throwing but missing with Jake just out of range. Jake sees a gap and advances forward landing the first meaningful shot of the contest in the form of a beautiful right leg round kick to the side of Rafaqit's head.
Rafaqit is having trouble with his distance and although is throwing much more is landing much less to the punch kick economy of Jake's work.
Jake again sees an opening and loops a left leg axe kick up and over the guard of Rafaqit and onto the side of his head.
Jake's movement and pose is very impressive and he by far looks the more seasoned of the two fighters at this stage in the contest.
Jake is doing an excellent job of landing his shots and stepping back just out of range to make the IFA fighter miss. This looks to be taking it's toll on Rafaqit and as the end of the round approaches he is looking a little tired.
The round ends and it is an impressive one for the USKA stand in.

Round 2

The second round sees a fast trade off of punches and kicks in the ring centre with neither man getting the better of the exchange.
As soon as the gap between them appeared again it was Jake who was dominating picking off his man and making him miss as he fired his shots back.
Jake's ring craft is very professional moving in and out of range finding his shots at both distances.
The missed shots from Rafaqit looked to have slowed him down and Jake is finding it easier to stay mid range to close quarter now and have the better of the trades.
From mid way through the round it is all Jake, boxing well and finishing with his kick and totally controlling the pace of the fight over the ever increasingly tired looking Rafaqit.
The round ends and it is two in the bag for the USKA boy.

Round 3

Final round now and the feeling from the USKA corner is that if Jake can continue to apply the tactics he is doing he surely will get the nod on the judges score cards.
Again both fighters start fast going toe to toe in the centre of the ring.
A gap again appears and Rafaqit tries this time to make his mark with a jump scissor round kick, Jake sees it coming and steps back to make it miss and responds with another one of his lead leg axe kick that once again slaps Rafaqit on the side of the head.
Rafaqit tired and on the move now with a still fresh looking Jake stalking on the attack closing of the ring.
Rafaqit's attacks have slowed down considerably now and are looking more laboured and easier for Jake to counter attack. Every miss is being punished with three or four counters from Jake pushing him further and further in front in this bout.
Rafaqit to his credit showed no signs of quitting but his ambition wavering with the limited amount of success he was having.
The bell sounds to end the contest as both fighters show their respects to each other and the opposing corner teams.
No doubt about this one as the result is announced. The winner by Unanimous points decision......Jake 'Rattlesnake' Richards.
Big credit to both lads on an excellent display of light continuous kickboxing but especially Jake for showing that fighters heart and attitude taking the fight at last minute in the first place. The USKA 'Stand in' does it again!

Main event time now with Qasim 'The Dream' Nisar trying to make it a hatrick of wins for the USKA team but more importantly than that at long last win and wear the golden belt around his waist after such a long wait.
Qasim first to the ring to an amazing reception from the crowd followed by a more subdued response from the crowd for IFA's Rajesh Salan.
No doubt on this one who the crowd were backing it seemed.

60kg Golden Belt Full Contact Final 5 x 2 minute rounds Full Contact Kickboxing

Qasim 'The Dream' Nisar (USKA) Vs Rajesh Salan (IFA)

Round 1

Qasim straight away took the centre of the ring and started employing the game plan that he and the USKA team had devised. Rajesh looked like he was waiting to counter and work off Qasim's leads.
Qasim connects first with a lead leg push kick to the body that Rajesh
was not quick enough to get to.
With Qasim holding the centre of the ring Rajesh was having to stand close to the ropes and when Qasim attacked Rajesh was trying to bounce off the ropes and fire off quick flurries.
Qasim was anticipating this well and any time Rajesh moved in he was being met with a punch combination from Qasim to stop him in his tracks.
Qasim also was putting a lead straight leg kick to the body on the end of his punch combinations in order to keep his kick count high.
Rajesh looked a little puzzled about what he was supposed to be doing. If he waited too long Qasim would have him backed up to the ropes but if he moved first he was being met with the punch combo and the finishing body kick. All was going to plan for the USKA fighter.
Qasim's use of range was excellent and although using very subtle movement was making Rajesh swing and miss quite widely and clumsily.
The first round bell sounded and it seemed as though Qasim was three thoughts and steps ahead of Rajesh with every move having an answer for everything he was trying to do.

Round 2

Round two started a little scrappy and disorganised with Rajesh trying to impose himself on Qasim but getting too close with both fighters roughing it up in the clinch.
Qasim looked the much more physically stronger of the two when it came down to the inside work and at one point Qasim's turning spun Rajesh to the floor in the USKA corner.
Rajesh again looked to be running out of ideas and had now stopped kicking making the job of reaching Qasim even more difficult than it already was.
Qasim at this point had taken the whole ring off Rajesh with his footwork and Rajesh was more busy looking for position than mounting any serious offence of his own.
Qasim's game plan was working a treat and it was another clear round to him leaving Rajesh and his corner needing to find some answers quick if they were to have any chance of breaking his rhythm and winning this fight.

Round 3

Qasim after being told in the corner to start turning up the heat was out of the blocks quick.
A combination of a cobra right hand followed by a left leg round kick to the head pushed Rajesh back on the ropes and catapulted him back forward only to run onto a powerful left jab of Qasim's that sent the IFA man crashing down to his knees at only 3 seconds into the round. Getting up on very wobbly legs and with his eyes swimming the referee Mike Fowles made the only call he could by waving off the contest to protect Rajesh Salan from further punishment.
Rajesh obviously unaware of how hurt he was and how bad the knockdown was protested the stoppage but even as he was being escorted back to his corner his legs were still not right and very shaky. There was no protests from the IFA corner realising that it was a call indeed in the best interest of their fighter.
Official time of stoppage 17 seconds of the third round.

So at last the new golden belt champion was crowned. As much as winning the belt it was just as important for Qasim to beat the man he had a no contest decision against to put beyond doubt that he is the best young amateur prospect in the country at 60kg.
This takes Qasim's record to 12 Fights 11 Wins 0 Loses 1 No Contest 8 Ko's.
He will next take to the full contact ring on October 28th at Walsall town hall in a tune up for an English National Title shot at the end of the year.

Well done to Noor, Jake and Qasim on three exceptional performances.
I've said it before and i'll say it again and again...................The Future is bright, The future is

U.S.K.A