PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rahim Shabazz (ranked 173 p4p, 945 weight class) and Willem Korsemann (ranked 30 p4p, 125 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Shabazz
vs
Korsemann

187 cm
24
221
11 - 1 - 0

223 cm
24
219
10 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary
🚫 PROHIBITED 🚫

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rahim Shabazz!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Willem Korsemann!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Frank Dennis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Korsemann instigates a clinch.
Korsemann is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Shabazz lands a body punch.
Shabazz misses with a short punch on the inside.
Korsemann lands a hook to the side of the head.
Korsemann lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Korsemann tries to work over Shabazz's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Korsemann unloads a knee to the mid-section. Shabazz lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Knees to the body from Korsemann.
A nice left hand lands by Korsemann.
Korsemann blocks an uppercut.
Shabazz blocks an elbow strike from Korsemann.
Korsemann lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Shabazz lands with a short shot to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Korsemann creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Korsemann blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Korsemann with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Shabazz throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Korsemann blocks it with crossed arms.
Shabazz connects with a nasty looking knee right to Korsemann's face.
A hook to the body from Shabazz.
Shabazz tries for a takedown. No joy.
Shabazz gets through Korsemann's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Shabazz can't find room to land a body shot as Korsemann controls the action.
Korsemann just leaning against Shabazz, taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korsemann misses with some punches.
Shabazz with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Korsemann lands a hook that snaps the head of Shabazz backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Korsemann.
Shabazz tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Korsemann trying to land knees to the body.
Korsemann using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Shabazz has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Shabazz lands a body shot in the clinch.
Korsemann is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Shabazz is defending well for now.
Shabazz pushes Korsemann back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Shabazz lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Korsemann landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Shabazz looking for a takedown.
Shabazz tries to work over Korsemann's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Korsemann looking to stall.
Korsemann missing with knees to the body.
Shabazz lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Shabazz lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Korsemann lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Shabazz is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Korsemann pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rahim Shabazz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Korsemann prevents a body shot from Shabazz.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Shabazz.
Shabazz missing with knees to the body.
Korsemann lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Shabazz backwards.
Korsemann blocks an uppercut.
Korsemann lands an elbow just above Shabazz 's eye.
Shabazz pushes Korsemann back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Korsemann missing with knees to the body.
Korsemann struggles to land a body shot inside as Shabazz controls his hands.
Shabazz doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Korsemann tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Shabazz avoids it.
Korsemann trying to land knees to the body.
Korsemann missing with knees to the body.
Shabazz is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Korsemann looks winded!
Shabazz lands a shoulder strike.
Korsemann wants to stall.
Shabazz misses with a hook to the ribs.
Shabazz lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Shabazz pushes Korsemann back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Shabazz lands with a right to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Korsemann swings wildly with an uppercut but Shabazz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Shabazz lands a hook to the side of the head.
Korsemann tries to land knees in the clinch but Shabazz avoids the damage to the body.
Shabazz lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Shabazz scores with a hook to the body.
Shabazz lands a nice uppercut.
Korsemann misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Shabazz.
Shabazz can't find room to land a body shot as Korsemann controls the action.

Shabazz tightens his grip and picks Korsemann up, before dumping him to the ground. Korsemann manages to land in guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Shabazz drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Shabazz seems to have locked his on tight now - Korsemann screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Shabazz, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:50 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Rahim Shabazz!
Rahim Shabazz retains his light heavyweight title!
Rahim Shabazz took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Brooklyn Apothecary for their support in the buildup to the fight.