WAKO BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS
NOTTINGHAM
18TH FEBRUARY 2006
Nottingham was new fighting ground for U.S.K.A's Qasim 'The
Dream' Nisar and Tommy 'Gun' Collett with them both travelling down
for the first time ever to compete in the WAKO british Championships
along side in the capacity of cornerman and coach Sean 'The Mighty'
Quinn.
These Championships were qualifiers for the WAKO European Championships
therefore it was an elimination tournament with each stage of competition
over two rounds at a length of two minutes each with a one minute
rest period.
First round of the competition
Step up to the mat Mr Gun, Tommy Collett............
Tommy's opponent comes out very aggressive and puts Tommy on the back
foot but nothing is landing cleanly. Tommy is then instructed to assert
a scoring jab which he does effectively finding his range.
Tommy then lands some clean punch to kick combination. This was a
good competitive round which Tommy just nicked with the cleaner combinations
scored.
Round two and Tommy starts the round strongly landing clean head punches.
The fight becomes scrappy and both fighters are told to clean up their
work by the referee.
Tommy responds to the referees request by landing a snap round kick
to the head. This frustrates his opponent seeing him rush forward
straight onto Tommy's jab.
The bout finishes with Tommy as the winner and through to the second
round of the competition.
Tommy sails through to round 2
Second round of the competition
Tommy's opponents comes out and tries to keep Tommy at bay
with his lead leg but it is serving only as an annoyance and is not
scoring.
Tommy them lands some clean punches followed by a straight leg round
kick to the body.
Due to Tommy's recent full contact training he is showing more patience
than usual. The slower pace however sees his opponent score two side
kicks two Tommy's body. Tommy responds to the second kick immediately
with a lead leg round kick to the head.
It seems like the two kicks had woken Tommy up and he continues to
score with kicks to the body and the head for the rest of the round.
Round one to Tommy.
Round two...Tommy's opponent comes out with a big head kick which
Tommy blacks. tommy attempts a spin kick but falls short of his target.
Unfazed he then lands a jab followed by a lead leg round kick flush
to his opponents head. The battle of the kicks then ensued with his
opponent landing first with an axe kick to the head with Tommy responding
straight away with one of his own.
The fight comes to an end with once again Tommy successful in getting
the decision. On to the final.
Tommy's semi final produced a classic battle of the kicks.
Final round of the competition
Round one and Tommy starts strongly landing a clean straight
one, two punch combination followed by a lead straight leg kick to
the body. Tommy then goes on the defensive and blocks a fast spin
kick of his taller opponent.
Sean calls for him to go forward to negate his mans kicks which again
he does and gets rewarded by landing good mixed combinations.
His opponent is not finished yet though and again responds well this
time with a jab to foot sweep that takes Tommy's leg and sends him
to the mat. The round comes to an end and although very close Tommy
has just took it.
Round two starts with Tommy once again landing with a one, two lead
straight leg to the body. This is followed quickly with a jab, straight,
lead hook to the head and Tommy is looking more and more confident
with every passing second into the round.
Tommy continues to push forward and lands with combinations to the
head and body. The round ends and an even more emphatic round leaves
us with the feeling that he has done more than enough to be crowned
British Champion.
The judges however had something else in mind awarding his opponent
the decision. Disappointed by what we saw as a dodgy decision but
happy with his performance Tommy finishes as runner up in the WAKO
British Championships.
Tommy's face says it all, His opponent surprisingly gets
the decision.
Next up was Qasim............
First round of the competition
Qasim was matched against reigning -63kg world champion Chris
Collymore who along with many other successes had won this competition
many times in the past.
Qasim as the underdog would have to really go some to take the judges
eyes and the decision from this established champion.
Chris starts aggresivley with straight punches in a blitz format trying
to out hustle and out hustle the younger man and test his metal. For
all his attempts though nothing lands cleanly.
Qasim being no respecter of reputations gets going and fires a combination
mixing up the punches and kicks well to body and head of a surprised
looking Collymore. Qasim enjoying the success continues to press forward
and Collymore looks like he is starting to tire. The round finished
with Qasim landing a straight one, two and finishing with a straight
leg to the body and the feeling is that Qasim had done enough to win
the round. Would the judges be seeing the same thing we were though
with Chris being such an established champion?
Qasim kicks out at World Champion Collymore.
Round two and Qasim continues where he left off, pressing
the attack and landing nice front and round kicks to Collymore's body.
Collymore again rushes Qasim with a blitz of straight punches with
Qasim landing the straight leg to the body under them.
Chris then showing his experience changes strategy and catches Qasim
sleeping with a lead uppercut straight right hand which Qasim takes
well and continues to press forward regardless landing punches to
the head and kicks to the body in response.
The round ends and Qasim feels he has comfortably won the fight. What
Qasim however has not taken into account that Chris Collymore is a
favoured fighter of the WAKO circuit and to get a decision against
him was always going to be a tough call for the new kid on the block.
Collymore gets the decision and Qasim 'The Dream' has to put it down
to another learning experience against World class opposition.
Qasim realises he is not only fighting his opponent but the
judges aswell as established champ Collymore gets the decision.
Not the results we were looking for but both fighters performed
well in their first full adult competition against the very best in
the country.
Tommy getting a silver medal and Qasim losing a very debatable decision
to a current World champion.
The learning curve continues with once again Tom and Qas proving that
they have the 'Have Gloves Will Travel' mentality that will no doubt
one day have them both crowned World Champion.
