PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Shamir Kahn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Firuz Shahzad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shahzad has chosen Yeke Yeke - Hardfloor Remix (Mory Kante) as his entrance music. Firuz Shahzad is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Kahn
vs
Shahzad

170 cm
22
165 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

173 cm
23
165 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

Kitsura Clothing Ltd $8 Shorts and T-shirts

KRRO Wear

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Shamir Kahn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Firuz Shahzad!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Gregory Folan and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kahn gets a takedown into half guard.
Shahzad is not content to let Kahn control the position.

Kahn is looking for a kimura here.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shahzad is looking to escape.
Shahzad is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kahn wants to get back to his feet.
Kahn is trying to control the action in half guard but Shahzad is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
A head kick misses from Shahzad.
Shahzad connects with a solid leg kick.

That's two 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.
Kahn ducks under a wild hook from Shahzad.

Kahn closes the distance and clinches.
Shahzad wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kahn has him pressed against the cage.
Shahzad wants to break free but Kahn has control.
Shahzad has had enough of the clinch but Kahn keeps him there for the moment.

Shahzad breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Kahn shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Shahzad's guard.
Shahzad wants to stand and escape but Kahn is having none of it.
Kahn trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kahn wants to control from the top but Shahzad keeps moving.
Shahzad keeping full guard, as Kahn tries to pass.
Shahzad bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kahn's guard.
Kahn is breathing heavily.
Kahn is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kahn trying to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shahzad passes into half guard.
Kahn manages to get to full guard.

Shahzad stands and steps away. Kahn gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Shahzad rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kahn moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Kahn shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shahzad is squirming around, avoiding Kahn's attempts to control the action.
Shahzad squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Shahzad tries to hold on but Kahn pushes him away.
Kahn working some short elbows here. He postures up to throw some more ground and pound but Shahzad slips a leg through to get back to half guard. Nice work.
Kahn has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Shahzad is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

Kahn looking to secure an arm triangle but Shahzad defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kahn has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Firuz Shahzad seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kahn shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Kahn 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.
Kahn is pushing down on Shahzad's leg trying to pass to half guard. Shahzad is fighting to maintain full guard but Kahn has managed to sneak the leg through.
Kahn stops Shahzad from getting back to his feet.
Kahn wants to control but Shahzad is keeping him busy.
Shahzad taking some punishment here, with Kahn in his half guard.
Kahn throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kahn has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Shahzad is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Kahn cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Kahn lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

Kahn jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Shahzad is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Shahzad and Kahn has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Shahzad throws Kahn to one side and escapes!

Kahn shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Shahzad's guard.
Kahn pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shahzad is keeping the position for now.
Kahn trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Shahzad manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kahn is pulling down on Shahzad's head. It's preventing any offense from Shahzad, at least for the moment.
Kahn's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Kahn has his foot on Shahzad's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Shahzad works his way back into a safe position though.
Shahzad wants to stand and escape but instead Kahn has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kahn trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Shahzad has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Kahn wants to control from the top but Shahzad keeps moving.

Shahzad uses the cage to get back to his feet.

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.
Shahzad lands a high kick!
Kahn tries to close the distance and clinch but Shahzad swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Shahzad feints and then cracks Kahn's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kahn down.
Kahn avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kahn on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Shahzad. Shahzad obviously looking to wear him down.
Shahzad misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kahn checks a leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Shahzad, right into the meat.
Shahzad throws a series of punches but Kahn avoids them all with ease.

Kahn bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Shahzad is trying to buck Kahn off.
Shamir Kahn overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Kahn decides to stand up, so the ref orders Shahzad to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shahzad throws a sloppy head kick and Kahn moves out of range easily.
Shahzad looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Shamir Kahn will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Shahzad throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kahn tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Shahzad swivels and escapes.
Kahn blocks a head kick by Shahzad.
Kahn shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Shahzad pinned against the cage. Shahzad gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kahn staying out of range there.

Kahn feints and as Shahzad raises his hands in defense, Kahn changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Shahzad is controlling Kahn's posture.
Kahn is stalling in the full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kahn looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shahzad wants to stand but Kahn is controlling the position.
Kahn wants to control from the top but Shahzad keeps moving.
Kahn controlling from the top position.
Kahn scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Shahzad trying to keep a closed guard but Kahn is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Kahn gets to his feet. Shahzad looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Kahn on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Shahzad. Shahzad obviously looking to wear him down.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Kahn crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Shahzad - the referee stops the clock and Kahn gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Shahzad. Kahn manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Shahzad feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Kahn's calf.
Kahn takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Shahzad tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shamir Kahn is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Kahn shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Kahn was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Kahn wants to control the pace but Shahzad is squirming around nicely.

Kahn moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Shahzad has worked his arm free - good work by Shahzad!
Kahn taking a breather here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shahzad is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Kahn's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Shahzad is trying to stand up here but Kahn is controlling him well.
Kahn has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Shahzad works to full guard.
Kahn missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Shahzad wants to stand but Kahn is controlling the position.
Kahn passes easily into side control. Nice work.

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.

Kahn is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Shahzad has escaped the position, nice work there.
Firuz Shahzad has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Kahn is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Shahzad knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Shahzad tries to escape but Kahn is in control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shamir Kahn showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kahn, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shamir Kahn!