PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Marcelo Aurelio (ranked 1433 p4p, 172 weight class) and Mustapha Shiit (ranked 1657 p4p, 196 weight class). Marcelo Aurelio could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Mustapha Shiit's chin.

Aurelio
vs
Shiit

180 cm
38
166 lbs
25 - 14 - 1

178 cm
37
169 lbs
12 - 10 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

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 25 - 14 - 1, fighting out of London, Marcelo Aurelio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 10 - 1, fighting out of New York, Mustapha Shiit!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Radbod Blank and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shiit looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Aurelio is fending him off so far but Shiit persists. Nope, Aurelio circles away and we're back to standing.

Shiit is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Aurelio's half guard.

Shiit is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Shiit wants to pass to mount but Aurelio is defending the position.
Shiit seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Aurelio does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
My spies in Big Bear Fight Factory inform me that Shiit has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Aurelio gets back to full guard.
Shiit is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aurelio managing to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aurelio keeping moving, preventing Shiit from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aurelio looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shiit is one step ahead there.

Shiit drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Shiit jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Aurelio throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Aurelio has his foot on Shiit's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Shiit works his way back into a safe position though.
Aurelio looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Shiit advances to half guard.
Shiit is looking to take a break and control but Aurelio is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Aurelio manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shiit got a little sloppy there for a moment and Aurelio has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Shiit has managed to get both his arms back between Aurelio's legs - danger averted.
Aurelio looking for a sweep. Not yet Aurelio, not yet.
Shiit slips nicely into half guard.
Aurelio is refusing to be controlled, as Shiit sits in half guard.
Shiit perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aurelio is trying to get back to full guard.
Shiit lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Aurelio regains full guard. Nicely done.
Aurelio throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Shiit postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Aurelio keeping moving, preventing Shiit from controlling successfully.
Shiit postures up and lands a big shot to Aurelio's brow.
Shiit trying to control the position from guard on top but Aurelio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aurelio controls Shiit momentarily but Shiit frees himself.
Aurelio keeping moving, preventing Shiit from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Aurelio is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Shiit is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Shiit trying to control the position from guard on top but Aurelio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Shiit closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Shiit lands in his opponent's guard.
Aurelio will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mustapha Shiit dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nice jab there from Aurelio.
Aurelio lands a body shot.
Aurelio goes for a double leg but Shiit avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Shiit continues to drive forward.

Shiit shoots in and bounces Aurelio off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Aurelio wants to sweep but no luck.
Aurelio pulls Shiit in close to prevent any damage.
Shiit passes easily into side control. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shiit misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Aurelio is trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shiit is trying to get an arm triangle but Aurelio is defending well.
Aurelio is trying to improve his position.
Aurelio manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Aurelio wants to control but Shiit is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shiit is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Aurelio wants to control but Shiit is keeping him busy.
Aurelio thows a huge punch but Shiit dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shiit is trying to get back to full guard.

Shiit is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Aurelio pulls his head out easily.
Shiit has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Aurelio sitting and controlling from the half guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Aurelio's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Aurelio is keen to just control but Shiit is a slippery customer.
Aurelio is thwarting Shiit's attempts to control the position.
Aurelio not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Aurelio working Shiit over with strikes.
Aurelio wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shiit keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shiit is controlling Aurelio's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Shiit is trying to get back to full guard.
Shiit trying to get back to full guard but Aurelio takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Aurelio avoids the attempt from Shiit to control.
Aurelio is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Shiit can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Shiit is squirming around, avoiding Aurelio's attempts to control the action.
Aurelio has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Shiit's face.

Shiit is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aurelio takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Shiit wants to hold on but Aurelio pushes him away.
Shiit working to try and regain half guard.
Shiit wants to control but Aurelio is having none of it.
Shiit can't escape the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shiit slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Shiit actively working from the bottom here.
Shiit is pressing down on Aurelio's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcelo Aurelio dominated that second round.
That's time! Aurelio's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Aurelio gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Shiit won't allow Aurelio to sweep him here.
Shiit trying to control but Aurelio is working from the bottom.
Aurelio managing to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shiit stands and throws Aurelio's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shiit working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Shiit is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Aurelio has escaped the position, nice work there.
Aurelio gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Shiit missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Aurelio is not content to let Shiit control the position.
Aurelio gets back to full guard.
Shiit trying to control but Aurelio is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shiit with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Shiit is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Aurelio is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Aurelio has escaped and now he's on top!

Aurelio is stalling in the full guard.
Mustapha Shiit has got the better of the ground game so far.

Shiit looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Shiit is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shiit wants to sweep but no luck.

Shiit throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Aurelio showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Aurelio has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Aurelio wants to control from the top but Shiit keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Shiit is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Aurelio is aware though and is defending well.
Shiit keeping moving, preventing Aurelio from controlling successfully.
Shiit looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Aurelio puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Aurelio sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Shiit defending well though.
Aurelio trying to control the action but Shiit is working from the bottom.
Aurelio throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shiit is trying to control but can't.
Aurelio takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mustapha Shiit comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Shiit has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mustapha Shiit!
During a confident post fight interview, Mustapha Shiit thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.